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