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Health

Non-communicable Diseases & Health Issues

Last updated on 01 July 2008

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), now recognised as a major cause of morbidity and mortality, are reaching epidemic proportions worldwide. Diseases such as heart disease and stroke, cancers, chronic respiratory conditions and type 2 diabetes are due to risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and drug use and abuse. Major NCDs account for almost 60% of deaths globally, 47% make up the global burden of disease, with 79% of those deaths occurring in developing countries.

The number of deaths from NCDs is double the number of deaths that result from a combination of infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria), maternal and peri-natal conditions, and nutritional deficiencies. Mental health has also become a major international health concern with new programs focusing on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation for people with conditions of depression, schizophrenia, alcohol and drug dependence, dementia, epilepsy, and those at risk of suicide.

These diseases are largely preventable and without worldwide concerted action some 388 million people worldwide will die of one or more NCD in the next 10 years. Follow the links below for resources covering these topics, including policy and practice documents, research, guides and toolkits, advocacy materials and websites.