American Cancer Society to Organize Panel Discussion on Strengthening Collaborative Efforts for Healthy Environments and Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention
At the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva in May, we saw a major breakthrough for people affected by cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) globally. All 194 WHO Member States adopted the first-ever global target on NCDs – a 25 percent reduction in preventable deaths from NCDs by 2025. Now, at Rio+20, we have the opportunity to build on this momentum and ensure NCDs are central to future health and development planning.
NCDs such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and diabetes are the leading causes of death in the world, accounting for 63% of global deaths. The burden of NCDs is greatest in the developing world, with nearly 80% of NCD deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Read more here. Some of the main common NCD risk factors (e.g., nutrition and diet, obesity, physical activity, and tobacco exposure) are increasing as a result of environmentally problematic economic development policies and practices.
As world leaders and experts meet to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, to assess progress to date, and to address new and emerging challenges, it is imperative that attention is drawn to the topic of NCDs and their links to economic development and the environment.
The American Cancer Society is collaborating with the NCD Alliance (ncdalliance.org) and other organizations to make sure health and NCDs remain a priority at Rio+20. The Society will host, in collaboration with the NCD Alliance, a panel discussion from 1:30 pm to 3 pm on June 19 where international experts will discuss the importance of addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to sustainable development, and multisectoral platforms that facilitate collaborative action on sustainable development and NCD prevention and control . The event will focus on three critical environment and development challenges – nutrition, healthy cities, and tobacco control – that link environmental concerns and the prevention and control of cancer and other NCDs.
Confirmed panelists include: Olav Kjørven, UN assistant secretary-general and director, Bureau for Development Policy, UN Development Program; Maria Blair, national vice president, strategy, American Cancer Society; Paula Johns, chair, Framework Convention Alliance; Dr. Maria Neira, director, public health and the environment, World Health Organization; and Dr. Deborah Carvalho Malta, director, NCD prevention and control, Brazilian Ministry of Health. The discussion will be moderated by Alessandra Durstine; vice president of Global Advocacy, American Cancer Society.
Please share information about this side event with any of your contacts who will be attending Rio+20. No RSVP is necessary. For more information, contact Gustavo Azenha, lead manager, Brazil programs, American Cancer Society, at [email protected]; or Ariella Rojhani, advocacy manager, NCD Alliance, at [email protected]
Visit global.cancer.org for more information and follow @ACSGlobal on Twitter using the hashtags #Rioplus20 and #Futurewewant for updates on the conference.