Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in the European Region of WHO
Zsuzsanna Jakab
Regional Director WHO – Regional Office for Europe
Deaths in EURO due to selected risk factors in 2004
0 1000 2000 3000
High blood pressure
Tobacco use
Overweigh/obesity
Physical inactivity
High cholesterol
High blood glucose
Alcohol use
Low fruit/vegetables
Urban outdoor air polution
Unsafe sex
thousands
Making progress - examplesHighlights in tobacco control
• 46 countries and the European Community have ratified the WHO FCTC
• 7 countries in the region are not yet Parties to the treaty (23 countries globally)
• Several countries in the region are global leaders in tobacco control such as Ireland, United Kingdom and Turkey in 100% smoke-free public places; Belgium, United Kingdom and Romania in pictorial health warnings etc.
Source: WHO Global NCD InfoBase, 2005.
≤25%
26-34.9%
35-44.9%
45-54.9%
55-64.9%
≥65%
Prevalence of overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2)among adult males, projections for 2010
Formidable agenda for action• Place and maintain prevention and control of noncommunicable
diseases (NCD), high on the political, social and development agendas
• Develop partnerships across sectors and integrated approaches:
– tackling obesity and unhealthy lifestyles
– implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
– understanding and acting on the social determinants of health
– addressing health inequalities and the needs of vulnerable groups
– creating environment supportive of healthy living
• Develop scientific evidence and effective interventions to inform decision-making and priority setting and support implementation of actions
• Strengthen health systems’ capacity to improve prevention and control:
– emphasis on stewardship and service delivery for appropriate patient-focused control, management and care
Regional commitments
• Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in the WHO European Region (RC56 Resolution)
• Prevention of injuries in the WHO European Region (RC55 Resolution)
• Framework for alcohol policy in the WHO European Region (RC55 Resolution)
• The Mental Health Declaration – Helsinki 2005
• WHO European Ministerial Conference on Counteracting Obesity 2006 – Istanbul Charter
Making progress on the policy front
• 32 Member States have national policies for NCD prevention and control.
• 47 Member States have developed nutrition policies, including 39 with policies on physical activity.
• 46 Member States have ratified the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control.
• 60% of Member States have integrated policies for unintentional injury prevention, and 46% for violence prevention.
WHO - The way forward…• Scale up work for comprehensive and integrated approaches
• Develop integrated NCD Regional Action Plan to be endorsed at Regional Committee in 2011
• Develop an European Alcohol Action Plan to be endorsed at Regional Committee in 2011
• Focus on target groups and individuals at high risk, and address social determinants and health inequalities
• Renew commitment to health promotion
• Strengthen health systems’ functions and capacity
• Develop effective collaboration with other sectors in multi-sectorial responses
• Strengthen partnership with international agencies, the EU and Member States committed to prevention and control