Curbs sought on non-communicable diseases

The U.N. General Assembly is planning a worldwide campaign against non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes by curbing tobacco and alcohol use. The General Assembly summit meeting of 30 heads of state and senior ministers and experts noted such diseases account for 63 percent of all deaths, totaling 57 million annually, U.N. News reported. The participants discussed a draft declaration calling for a campaign by governments, industry and civil society to address four groups of NCDs -- cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. Preventive steps will range from price and tax measures to reduce tobacco use to curbing television and other marketing to children of foods and beverages high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, sugars or salt. Other steps would seek to cut harmful consumption of alcohol, promote overall healthy diets and increase physical activity. "This will be a massive effort, but I am convinced we can succeed," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the summit's opening session, the second such General Assembly meeting on health after the first one on HIV and AIDS). Ban said over a quarter of all people who die from NCDs succumb in the prime of life, the vast majority of them in developing countries. "Our collaboration is more than a public health necessity. Non-communicable diseases are a threat to development. NCDs hit the poor and vulnerable particularly hard, and drive them deeper into poverty," he said. General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser said: "The impact of this loss, this tragedy, goes beyond individuals, beyond families. NCDs are altering demographics. They are stunting development. And they are impacting economic growth."