Australia should lead in the effort to reduce the huge burden of non-communicable diseases
When it comes to global health, the international aid effort is almost entirely focused on the immense burden that communicable diseases inflict on the world’s low- and middle-income nations. But the world is also facing what United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon describes as “a public health emergency in slow motion”.1 Across the globe, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — principally heart disease, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and chronic lung disorders — are imposing ever greater burdens on individuals, families, health systems and economies.
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* Ruth Colagiuri, Vice President, International Diabetes Federation; David J Hill, Director, Cancer Council Victoria, and Immediate Past President, International Union Against Cancer; Greg J Johnson, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Diabetes Australia; Erin Lalor, Chief Executive Officer, National Stroke Foundation; Rob Moodie, Professor of Global Health, Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne; Ian N Olver, Chief Executive Officer, Cancer Council Australia; Lyn M Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, National Heart Foundation of Australia, and Immediate Past Vice President, World Heart Federation; Helen M Robinson, Fellow, Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne; Anne C Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, Kidney Health Australia; and Rohan J Greenland, Director, Government Relations, National Heart Foundation of Australia.