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Time for global action on chronic disease

Australians for Global Action on NCDs*
Med J Aust 2011; 194 (4): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2011.tb03761.x
Published online: 21 February 2011

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.

  • Australians for Global Action on NCDs*




Acknowledgements: 

* 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.

  • 1. Secretary-General, in concluding remarks to forum, emphasizes importance of partnerships in race to meet health-related Millennium Development Goals. 15 June 2009. SG/SM/12314-DEV/2746. New York: United Nations, 2009. http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/sgsm 12314.doc.htm (accessed Jan 2011).
  • 2. World Health Organization. 2008–2013 Action plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. Geneva: WHO Press, 2008.
  • 3. Nugent RA, Feigl AB. Where have all the donors gone? Scarce donor funding for non-communicable diseases. Washington, DC: Center for Global Development, 2010.
  • 4. Global Risk Network of the World Economic Forum. Global risks 2010: a global risk network report. Geneva: World Economic Forum, 2010.
  • 5. United Nations General Assembly. Sixty-fifth session. Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit. Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report by the Director-General of the World Health Organization on the global status of non-communicable diseases, with a particular focus on the development challenges faced by developing countries. New York: United Nations, 2010. http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/65/362 (accessed Jan 2011).
  • 6. The NCD Alliance. About us. http://www.ncdalliance.org/about (accessed Jan 2011).
  • 7. Scollo MM, Winstanley MH, editors. Tobacco in Australia: facts and issues. 3rd ed. 1.3 Prevalence of smoking — adults. Melbourne: Cancer Council Victoria, 2008. http://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-1-prevalence/1-3-prevalence-of-smoking-adults (accessed Jan 2011).

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