Manila: A health group on Friday called on newly elected officials to confront non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which it describes as a public health crisis. The Healthy Philippines Alliance (HPA) made the appeal following the United Nations Multi-Stakeholder Hearing on NCDs and a day before the World No Tobacco Day celebration.
According to Philippines News Agency, Filipinos face a 24.5 percent chance of dying from NCDs between ages 30 and 70, far above the Asia-Pacific regional average of 15.6 percent. According to HPA, bold and evidence-based policies must be made to prevent and manage chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses.
'Our newly-elected leaders need to confront the truth that NCDs are the number one cause of deaths in the Philippines and continue to place a great burden on Filipino families,' HPA lead convenor Jaime Galvez Tan said in a forum. Tan, a former Department of Health (DOH) secretary, highlighted the role of diet and lifestyle-related factors in driving the epidemic, pointing to poor nutrition and tobacco and vape use as urgent areas for policy reform.
He underscored the need for front-of-pack food warning labels to curb the consumption of sugar, sodium, and fats in processed foods. 'We also need more stringent policies to mitigate tobacco and vape use, especially among our youth, that exposes them to higher risks of lung injury, cancer, and heart disease,' Tan said.
The HPA also underscored that NCDs disproportionately impact marginalized and low-income communities due to systemic social, economic, and environmental inequalities. To search for solutions, the group participated in a United Nations Multi-stakeholder Hearing early this month in preparation for the upcoming Fourth UN High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being that will take place in September.
During the hearing, advocates urged governments to provide key policy recommendations for the prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and long-term disease management. These include strengthened nutrition regulations by limiting sugar, sodium, and saturated fats in processed food; expanded social protections for individuals living with NCDs to reduce financial hardship; investment in sustainable and healthy communities, including promotion of physical activity and reduction of air pollution; integration of NCD prevention and control programs into the national universal healthcare system; and enhancement of primary healthcare systems for improved accessibility and early intervention.
HPA said a coordinated, multisectoral approach involving all levels of government and civil society is needed to address the NCD crisis and align with global health targets, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
