10 November 2015

Cairo, Egypt

1–2 September 2015

Over the last 15 years, noncommunicable diseases have moved to the forefront of  global  health  and  development  agendas  as  an  urgent global burden. Through a series of commitments, including the landmark 2011 United Nations (UN) Political Declaration of the High- level Meeting of the General Assembly on Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, the nine voluntary global targets, and the Global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2020, governments have recognized the magnitude of noncommunicable diseases and their impact on the socioeconomic progress of their countries. Globally, civil society organizations have played an instrumental role in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases as   advocates,   knowledge brokers, capacity-builders, policy influencers and service deliverers.                 

Whilst civil society organizations have been a key player at the global level, the picture is often different at the regional level. An approach is needed in which all sectors of government and civil society work together to push for concrete and effective action that will achieve the target of a 25% relative reduction in overall mortality from cardiovascular   diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases by 2025. Though there is a declared commitment at the highest level from Member States to adopt the regional framework for action to implement the UN Political Declaration on Non-communicable Diseases, the recent WHO Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2014 described the progress as “uneven and inadequate” at national and  regional  levels.  It is  therefore  vital  to  empower  civil society organizations to move the noncommunicable disease agenda forward through working with governments and other key players.                                                             Recommendations

To civil society organizations

1.   Support the implementation of the regional framework for action with a special focus on the identified core strategic interventions.

2.   Establish national noncommunicable disease alliances by bringing together individual associations and societies, and 

Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2014 described the progress as “uneven and inadequate” at national and  regional  levels.  It is  therefore  vital  to  empower  civil society organizations to move the noncommunicable disease agenda forward through working with governments and other key players.   

3.Allocate in-kind contributions to support civil society organizations activities,including setting-up a secretariat for national and regional alliances.