CANSA and Partners say ENOUGH Inaction on Non-Communicable Diseases
3 September 2018 – This week, thousands of people across the world, are participating in activities to mark the first Global Week for Action on Non-communicable Diseases (NCD’s), ahead of the third United Nations High-Level Meeting on to be held in New York on 27th September 2018.
Participants are saying ENOUGH of the apathy, inaction and glacial progress on prevention and control of NCD’s and calling on governments to deliver on the right to health for all people everywhere. #beatNCDs
The first Global Week for Action on NCD’s, from 3-9 September, is an initiative of NCD Alliance, themed ENOUGH. Our Health. Our Right. Right Now. It is a unifying and rallying opportunity for advocates and activists to celebrate where progress has been made, and call on governments everywhere to step up to translate commitments into action that will lead to meaningful progress and improvement of the lives of citizens.
The Cancer Asssociation of South Africa (CANSA) and the SA NCD Alliance join hundreds of partners from across the globe to call on governments to take assertive action to deliver progress on NCD prevention and control.
Elize Joubert, CEO CANSA, on behalf of the organisation, agrees that urgent action is needed: “Enough of the shockingly low allocation of resources towards prevention, control and treatment of NCD’s in SA, which is rising to epidemic proportions. It is high time that our politicians realise that investing in NCD’s now, is an investment in the future. How can they possibly believe they are doing enough?”
Make your voice heard by sharing the #enoughNCDs message close to your heart, on your social media platforms and help CANSA #beatNCDs
NCD’s are the world’s leading cause of death and disability, and are the focus of a Sustainable Development Goal target to reduce premature mortality by 1/3 by 2030 – which, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Secretary General Antonio Gueterres, is currently unlikely to be achieved without much more assertive action.
NCDs, sometimes referred to as chronic or long term conditions, are not transmissible from person to person, and include cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and mental and neurological conditions. A large proportion of NCDs are preventable, with major modifiable risk factors including tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and pollution.
The Political Declaration expected to be adopted during the UN General Assembly later this month will go some way toward advancing efforts to curb the alarming trajectory of the NCD burden, however civil society is concerned that without much greater investment and accountability for commitments that they have made in the past, and will make at the forthcoming High-Level Meeting on NCDs, Governments will let down their citizens and be responsible for considerable avoidable loss of life, preventable suffering and, unsustainable economic challenges because of the growing costs of dealing with NCDs.
Unfortunately implementation of many of the most cost effective, evidence based measures to prevent and control NCD’s has been lacking in many countries.
Given that many of the factors that influence the rise of NCD’s exist outside of the health sector – such as in trade, education, transport and agriculture – it is vital that senior-most political leaders engage in NCD’s, to ensure a comprehensive, coherent, multi-sectoral response to their determinants and the systems needed to provide treatment and care for people living with these diseases.
About the Campaign
ENOUGH. Our Health. Our Right. Right Now. is a global campaign around the third High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases, which will take place at the United Nations on 27 September 2018. The campaign, led by global NGO the NCD Alliance, calls for the right to a healthy life free from preventable suffering, disability and death for everyone, everywhere, now. #enoughNCDs
Visit https://enoughncds.com for the latest information from around the world.
Queries CANSA
For more information, please contact Lucy Balona, Head: Marketing and Communication at CANSA at email lbalona@cansa.org.za or call 011-616 7662 ,or mobile 082 459 5230.
About CANSA
CANSA offers a unique integrated service to the public and to all people affected by cancer. CANSA is a leading role-player in cancer research (more than R12 million spent annually) and the scientific findings and knowledge gained from our research are used to realign our health programmes, as well as strengthen our watchdog role to the greater benefit of the public.
Our health programmes comprise health and education campaigns; CANSA Care Centres that offer a wide range of care and support services to those affected by cancer; stoma and other clinical support and organisational management; medical equipment hire, as well as a toll-free line to offer information and support.
We also supply patient care and support in the form of 11 CANSA Care Homes in the main metropolitan areas for out-of-town cancer patients; a Wellness Centre based in Polokwane; and CANSA-TLC lodging for parents and guardians of children undergoing cancer treatment.
