Money Web
The Diseases of the Rich Spread to All
By Kim Cloete
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK - The number of deaths from cancer and heart disease has risen sharply, especially in low and middle-income countries, sparking renewed efforts to prevent and treat them.
According to the World Health Organisation, cancer, strokes, diabetes, heart disease and chronic respiratory diseases – which are grouped as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), make up around 63% of deaths worldwide.
“NCDs are hidden, misunderstood and under-reported,” says John Seffrin, the CEO of the American Cancer Society. “They’re widely believed to affect the most affluent nations. Yet more than 80% of these deaths are in developing countries.”
The WHO forecasts that the greatest increase in NCDs within the next four years will come from the African region.
The wave of Western influence has increasingly crept into developing countries, with smoking, alcohol intake, obesity and decreased physical activity on the rise. This has pushed up the risk of NCDs.
“Society is getting fatter and lazier, smoking, using excessive alcohol and eating food rich in trans fat,” Cary Adams, the CEO of the Union for International Cancer Control, told a recent media briefing at the United Nations in New York.
The escalating concern over NCDs has led to a heavy push by civil society groups worldwide, prompting a decision to hold a UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, in September.
It’ll bring together Heads of State to develop global strategies to tackle the increasing rate of NCDs. The meeting is considered a historic occasion as it’ll only be the second of its kind to focus on health. The other was the summit on HIV/AIDS in 2001which led to widespread changes in international co-operation and resources to fight the HIV/Aids epidemic.
On the ground, there are renewed efforts to try to stop many of the lifestyle-related diseases before they take root. Diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and certain cancers fall well within this ambit.
The WHO recommends a combination of a healthy diet and sufficient exercise, reducing harmful alcohol use and giving up smoking.
It says 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day significantly reduces the risk of breast and colon cancer, while two-and-a-half hours of exercise a week has proven to slice the risk of diabetes, heart disease and strokes.
The WHO has proposed that governments adopt national policies to ensure that walking, cycling, sports and other recreational activities are accessible and safe. They’ve also encouraged urban design which encourages exercise.
In the workplace, the WHO says companies should encourage people to use the stairs – and provide space for fitness.
As unhealthy diets are known to increase the risk of NCDs, the WHO has proposed that governments adopt strategies to lower the use of salt, sugar and fats in food.
Excessive salt intake is linked with high blood pressure, which is a major cause of death.
“In Europe and North America, about 75% of salt intake is from sodium added in manufactured foods and meals. In some African and Asian countries, most sodium consumption is from salt added at home in cooking and at the table, or through sauces, such as soy sauce,” says the WHO’s Global Status Report on Non-Communicable Diseases.
“It has been estimated that if salt consumption is reduced to the recommended level, up to 2.5m deaths could be prevented each year.”
Finland, France, Ireland, Japan and the UK have already adopted salt reduction initiatives. The UK is working with industry to reduce the levels of salt in food, raise consumer awareness and improve food labelling. The chipping away at salt intake has reaped rewards. In the UK, salt in food has been cut by up to 55%.
In some countries, there are some positive results from pressure on companies to reduce trans-fats, found in many fast foods and convenience meals from supermarkets.
Trans-fatty acids have been virtually eliminated in Denmark following aggressive restrictions started in 2003.
The focus has also shifted to children in many countries, where food high in salt, fats and sugar is hugely appealing, spurred on by engaging advertisements and promotions.
There have been some moves to change this.
The WHO says since 2003, 20 countries have developed or are developing policies that include statutory mandates, official guidelines or approved forms of self-regulation. In the UK, children between aged 4 and 15 have been exposed to 32% less overall food advertising since restrictions were instituted.
Tobacco control is the biggest intervention, with a global tax on tobacco being proposed and measures to tighten tobacco control through heavier restrictions on smoking in public places, advertising, sponsorships and more blatant warnings on cigarette packs.
The deputy secretary-general of the UN, Asha-Rose Migiro, told journalists everyone needed to work together to combat NCDs.
“Changing individual habits is essential, yes, but this is not only a campaign for individuals. Governments can take decisions that reward and encourage healthy habits. Equally they can raise the financial cost of unhealthy habits. Academics and scientists can foster progress. Companies can adjust the formulas of their foods to include better ingredients. All of us can take measures to keep harmful chemicals out of our environment.”
Seffrin believes a multi-pronged approach is critical, but that should include more money and resources to fight NCDs. The American Cancer Society says research shows that less than 3% of overall global development assistance for health is allocated to preventing and controlling NCDs.
“NCDs perpetuate the poverty cycle and also stunt the development of healthy nations. We know for sure we will see a tsunami of NCDs. But we have the tools to make a difference. We can intervene and stop it.”
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