Nigeria, world leaders commit to lead response to beat NCDs, promote mental health

To implement a series of World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended policies, president Muhammadu Buhari has joined other Head of States and Government at the first-ever UN High-level meeting in commitment to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs), promote mental health and well-being.

WHO estimates that implementing polices such as public education and awareness campaigns to promote healthier lifestyles, vaccinating against HPV virus to protect against cervical cancer and treating hypertension and diabetes could generate US$ 350 billion in economic growth in low and lower-middle-income countries between now and 2030.

Other specific commitments focus on halting the rise of childhood obesity, promoting regular physical activity, reducing air pollution and improving mental health and wellbeing.

The world leaders resolved to take responsibility themselves for their countries’ effort to prevent and treat NCDs and also agreed that these efforts should include robust laws and fiscal measures to protect people from tobacco, unhealthy foods, and other harmful products, for example by restricting alcohol advertising, banning smoking, and taxing sugary drinks.

According to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, today world leaders have taken a set of landmark steps to beat non- communicable diseases.

“These add up to a historic opportunity to promote health, save lives, and grow economies,” said Ghebreyesus.

According to WHO, non-communicable diseases, primarily cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancers and diabetes, currently account for the deaths of seven in every 10 people worldwide (41 million), including 15 million in the prime of their lives (aged 30-69), mostly from developing countries.

Mental conditions and disorders are a related concern, with depression alone affecting 300 million people.

Ghebreyesus added that the political declaration reaffirms global leadership of the fight to beat NCDs and promote mental health, and urges the Organization to continue working closely with key partners, including government, civil society and the private sector.

“In particular, it calls on food manufacturers to take several actions in reformulating products to reduce salt, free sugars and saturated and industrially produced trans fats, using nutrition labelling on packaged food to inform consumers, and restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children,” he said.

ANTHONIA OBOKOH