Yesterday I had the pleasure and privilege to submit another contribution to the consultation that the World Health Organization (WHO) is conducting concerning the First WHO Discussion Paper (Version dated July 23, 2013, also known as “Zero Draft”) Draft Terms of Reference for a Global Coordination Mechanism for the Prevention and Control of NCDs.
Yes, that sounds technical. But it’s actually not that complex: In May the World Health Assembly took the decisions
“(1) to endorse the WHO global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2020;2
“(2) to adopt the comprehensive global monitoring framework for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, including the set of 25 indicators3 capable of application across regional and country settings to monitor trends and to assess progress made in the implementation of national strategies and plans on noncommunicable diseases;
“(3) to adopt the set of nine voluntary global targets for achievement by 2025 for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases,3 noting that the target related to a 25% relative reduction in overall mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory diseases concerns premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases between ages 30 and 70, in accordance with the corresponding indicator; “
It means the Member States of the WHO decided to adopt the “WHO global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases“ (GAP). The GAP covers the period of 2013 to 2020 and comes along with a comprehensive global monitoring framework for the prevention and control of NCDs, and includes a set of 25 indicators. And it contains nine voluntary targets, among them “At least 10% relative reduction in the harmful use of alcohol”.
IOGT International and our member organisations had been working hard on that topic over years and the adoption of the GAP is a big victory for public health. Alcohol is a major risk factor for NCDs and evidence from around the world shows that increasing the price, reducing the availability and banning alcohol marketing are cost-effective and high-impact measures to reduce and prevent a large number of alcohol-related NCDs. The GAP contains these three “Best Buys”.
The next important step to take is of course, to make the plan a reality. For that we need a global coordination mechanism that truly caters for the unique scale of the NCD epidemic, with the capacity and legitimacy to mobilise resources and coordinate multi-sectoral action on NCDs. This gap in the global architecture was recognised two years ago in the 2011 UN Political Declaration, and this year at the WHA a commitment was made by Member States to establish a Global Coordination Mechanism (GCM).
So, I share with you the IOGT International Response to First WHO Discussion Paper (Version dated July 23, 2013) Draft Terms of Reference for a Global Coordination Mechanism for the Prevention and Control of NCDs.
Please feel free to comment and share your opinions below.
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For more information:
The Zero Draft itself: “Draft terms of reference for a global coordination mechanism for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases” First WHO Discussion Paper (Version dated 23 July 2013)
The NCD Alliance Submission – WHO Zero Draft Terms of Reference for a Global Coordination Mechanism for NCDs, October 2013
NCD Alliance website on the Global NCDs Framework Campaign, featuring the IOGT International submission
The list of IOGT International’s previous submissions to WHO on the GAP.
03 April, 2012 IOGT International reply to World Health Organisation, Consultation on “Options for Strengthening and Facilitating Multisectoral Action for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases through Partnership”
“Monitoring Framework and Targets for the Prevention and Control of NCDs“
16 April, 2012 IOGT International reply to World Health Organisation, Consultation on “Monitoring Framework and Targets for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases”
“Global Action Plan 2013 – 2020 for Prevention and Control of NCDs”
07 September, 2012 IOGT International contribution to discussion of WHO “Development of an updated Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013 – 2020″
16 October, 2012 IOGT International contribution to discussion of the WHO second consultation round concerning the monitoring framework for NCDs
“Revised Draft Global Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2013-2020“
10 March, 2013 IOGT International response to the on-going, informal consultations concerning the “Global Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2013-2020″
29 March, 2013 IOGT International response to the 4th round of informal consultations concerning the WHO Global Action Plan for Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020
