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NCDs are largely preventable by effective and
feasible public health interventions that tackle the major modifiable risk
factors--tobacco use, improper diet, physical inactivity, and harmful use
of alcohol. However, poverty, low levels of literacy and limited access to
health care are important social determinants and are an additional
challenge for NCD prevention and control efforts.
“Action
by health ministries alone will not be adequate to reverse the NCD epidemic
as the role of other sectors will be vital for creating environments to
promote healthy lifestyles”, said Dr
Plianbangchang.
WHO
also calls for more evidence-based approaches in NCDs
management. Key players must translate the
information into actions. Verbal commitments must also be translated into
concrete allocations of human and financial resources. Governments must
prioritize NCDs in its health policies and programmes, including increased budgets.
To
be effective, NCDs prevention and control programmes require coordinated and collaborative action
by multiple sectors, including the private sector, media, education, and
civil society.
In preparation for the upcoming
UN High-level Meeting on NCDs to be held in New York, the
Jakarta Call has been made to galvanize various sectors into action at
global and national levels in order to address the health and socioeconomic
impact of NCDs in a more comprehensive manner
through coordinated, effective approaches.
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