What are non-communicable diseases?
They are diseases that are not infectious and can’t be passed on (eg diabetes). Non communicable diseases are increasingly gaining prominence on the global health agenda. Evidence that they account for an estimated 60 per cent of global deaths highlights that efforts to reduce non communicable diseases would have a substantial impact on global health. At the CMA’s conference, Dr Anie – who is responsible for Gender, Education and Health projects at the Commonwealth Secretariat – praised the efforts by Commonwealth Caribbean countries which she said “played a leading role” in raising the profile of concern on NCDs at their regional summit in 2007.
