Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes are responsible for 60% of global mortality; 80% of which occur in low and middle income countries.

The World Economic Forum reports that NCDs are linked to poverty and can reduce the gross domestic product of the faster developing countries by 1%- 5%.

WHO data confirms that cancer is killing more people globally in low and middle income countries than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined and that the global ‘epidemic’ of NCDs is escalating.

Despite this, NCDs have been effectively excluded from the Millennium Development Goals for the past ten years, during which over 40 million people have died from cancers in the low and middle income countries; the majority suffering terribly without any access to effective palliative care.

Health systems in low- and middle-income countries need to be strengthened enabling them to respond more effectively and equitably to the health-care needs of poor people with NCDs. Resources need to be mobilised to address NCDs just as they have been mobilised to address communicable diseases like malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS, but this time within the framework of properly functioning heath systems.

If the situation remains unchanged a further 30-35 million people living in low or middle income countries can be expected to die from cancers before the current Goals expire in 2015. That’s why our charity supports the international call to convene a Special Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGASS) to discuss the global response to NCDs and for the inclusion of NCD Indicators under the Sixth Millennium Development Goal on Health.

The time to speak up is now.

Mark Lodge
Director, INCTR Challenge Fund