A new study @LancetGH reveals that absolute noncommunicable diseases #NCDs deaths and disabilities have more than doubled since 1990 due to rapid population growth. NCDs now account for nearly 45% of all deaths on the continent, with ischemic 🫀heart disease, stroke 🧠 and #diabetes leading the toll, while high blood pressure, dietary risks, and #airpollution remain the top preventable drivers. Despite more than half of these deaths being linked to modifiable risk factors, Africa is not currently on track to meet global #SDGs targets by 2030, underscoring an urgent need for stronger prevention, primary health care integration, and equitable investment. thelancet.com/journals/langl…

Despite accounting for nearly 75% of global mortality, #NCDs and mental health remain significantly underfunded and still lack a clear centre of gravity within global health governance. Alison Cox, Director for Policy and Advocacy at the @ncdalliance, warned: "NCDs account for around 75% of global mortality, yet receive only about 6% of @WHO's budget. Everyone must help drive a more multisectoral, integrated approach, and the Task Force is an excellent example of how to build that centre of gravity." On sustainable financing, @DrNataliaLinos, Health Policy Lead, Prosperity and Well-being Hub at @UNDP, pointed to the need to expand domestic resources through health taxes and stronger political engagement. "NCDs have always been underfunded. Angola doubled excise taxes on #tobacco and #alcohol and directed 60% of the revenue to health and sanitation. We need to make the cost of inaction visible and bring these issues to parliaments." Speakers also highlighted the role of diagnostics and technology in closing major access gaps. May Abdel-Wahab, Director of the Division of Human Health at the International Atomic Energy Agency @iaeaorg, said: "We cannot treat what we cannot see. In some low-income settings, one PET-CT scanner serves 250 million people, compared with 250,000 in a high-income country. The Task Force is essential for coordination across more than 40 UN agencies and for avoiding fragmentation." The meeting also drew attention to the challenge of delivering NCD care in humanitarian settings. @Lamia Mahmoud, Regional Advisor on NCD Prevention and Healthcare at @WHOEMRO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, noted: "Our region hosts nearly 50% of the world's displaced population. We cannot afford not to prioritize NCDs. Emergencies are not going away, and NCD services must be embedded in humanitarian response from the outset." From South Africa 🇿🇦, Tsholofelo Tsheole, Chargée d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission in Geneva, underscored the urgency of closing the gap between declarations and national #implementation, particularly for the Global South, and called for social solidarity, universal health coverage and integrated health systems. Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation, Oleg Salagay, reaffirmed the importance of translating global pledges into national action, pointing to taxes on #sugar-sweetened beverages and anti-tobacco campaigns that have nearly halved smoking prevalence since 2008. The meeting also marked the launch of the 2026–2027 Task Force awards programme. @JLCastroGarcia, WHO Director-General's Special Envoy for Chronic #Respiratory Disease, said the new edition would focus on recognizing leadership, innovation and multisectoral action on air pollution and chronic respiratory disease prevention and management. uniatf.who.int/about-us/news…

Despite accounting for nearly 75% of global mortality, NCDs and mental health remain significantly underfunded and still lack a clear centre of gravity within global health governance." Alison Cox, Director for Policy and Advocacy at the @ncdalliance, warned: "NCDs account for around 75% of global mortality, yet receive only about 6% of WHO's budget. Everyone must help drive a more multisectoral, integrated approach, and the Task Force is an excellent example of how to build that centre of gravity." #NCDs #mentalhealth @un_ncd #WHA79

Leaders from across the world at the Eightieth United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have adopted the political declaration to combat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health challenges through a fully integrated approach. This is the outcome of the intergovernmental negotiations in advance of and considered by the fourth high-level meeting of the #UNGA on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and well-being, held on 25 September 2025. Titled "Equity and integration: transforming lives and livelihoods through leadership and action on noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being", the political declaration is the first such declaration addressing NCDs and #mentalhealth together, and marks a unique opportunity to accelerate global progress with a set of specific global targets for 2030. This step is expected to usher in a new era in addressing some of the world’s most pressing health challenges – affecting people of all ages and income levels across the globe. Today’s leading causes of death – #NCDs – claim 18 million lives prematurely each year, while mental health conditions affect over a billion people globally. NCDs are often driven by preventable risk factors such as unhealthy diets, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and #airpollution – many of which also negatively impact mental health. Both NCDs and mental health conditions are increasing in every country, affecting every community. That makes them urgent issues not only for public #health, but also for productivity and sustainable economic growth. who.int/news/item/16-12-2025…