Pan American Forum for Action on NCDs: Governments, Civil Society and Business working together to prevent and control NCDs

Chronic Non-communicable diseases, (NCD) principally cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease, are the leading cause of death in the Americas. The shared risks are tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, poor diet, and physical inactivity, driven by profound changes in the way we live, work and play. Economic costs are estimated at $30 trillion over 20 years globally. Yet, NCDs can largely be prevented and controlled through public policies, education and risk factor reduction, and primary health care. Recognizing the burden, the United Nations held a high-level meeting (UNHLM) on NCDs in September 2011, calling for urgent efforts to control NCDs using multi-sector approaches. The Pan American Forum for Action on NCDs was launched by the Pan American Health Organization to bring together governments, private sector, academic community, civil society and international organizations to confront the NCD epidemic and promote health at all levels. Its goal is to improve well-being and productivity in the Americas, avoid >3 million deaths and billions of dollars in economic losses in 10 years through innovative multi-sector partnership approaches; to support UNHLM outcomes in the Americas. Emphasis is on joint action to advocate for the inclusion of the fight against NCD as a development issue in the public policy agenda, to promote intersectorial action, and mobilize resources to scale up cost-effective “best buys” of WHO, e.g., information and communications, tobacco and alcohol control, dietary salt reduction, screening and preventive care of persons at high risk of CVD, vaccination and screening for cervical cancer.