World Heart Federation and the UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Advocacy and action to address the global burden of cardiovascular and other NCDs

摘要

In September, organizations that have been addressing the four main non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which include cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease, will see the issue of NCDs finally receive focus as a global development issue. The United Nations High-Level Meeting (UN HLM) on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases will occur just before the General Assembly and will bring together heads of state and heads of government and their designees for a meeting that, over the course of 2 days, will address solutions to the pandemic of NCDs in low-, middle- and high-income countries. The call for this meeting, only the second of its type to address a health issue (the first was the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDs in 2001, which led to dramatically accelerated and increased funding for HIV/AIDS), was confirmed through a resolution in May 2010. The World Heart Federation and its disease partners in the NCD Alliance (the International Diabetes Federation, Union for International Cancer Control and International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease) played a key role in the call for this Summit, and are extensively engaged in actions leading up to the HLM. It is what comes after September that is most critical, and where the global cardiovascular (CVD) community can show our strength and unity.