Tackling the Pacific’s leading cause of death, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will be the focus of Pacific Island leaders when they meet in Nuku’alofa, Tonga between 20-22 June 2016.

NCDs such as heart disease, cancer, lung disease and diabetes are lowering life expectancy in some Pacific Island countries including Tonga.

The United Nations Development Programme Administrator, Helen Clark, a former New Zealand Prime Minister, will deliver a keynote address focusing on the links between NCDs and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which addresses ending poverty through economic development and social needs such as education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.

The Pacific NCD Summit, the first ever held in the region, is a collaboration between the Government of Tonga and the Pacific Community (SPC), supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the New Zealand Aid Programme, World Bank, World Diabetes Foundation, World Health Organisation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

SPC’s Director General Dr Colin Tukuitonga said “There’s no shortage of declarations, commitments and strategies aimed at addressing NCDs, but with up to 75 per cent of deaths in the Pacific related to NCDs, current efforts just aren’t enough.”

Many Pacific Island countries and territories aren’t able to provide essential medicine and services to prevent and care for people with NCDs.

Tonga’s Minister for Health and acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Saia Piukala said that although there are challenges, the response to NCDs should be multi-sectoral and aligned to commitments.

“The summit aims to present a case for more urgent and collaborative action towards addressing NCDs in the Pacific at the global, regional and national level.”

Participants will review how Pacific Islands and territories are implementing their NCD activities aligned with various existing plans on sustainable development such as the SDGs and the Samoa Pathway as well as the Pacific NCD Roadmap. 

Tonga is leading the way in tackling NCDs and is the first country in the world to develop an NCD strategy (2004), the first in the Pacific to set up a Health Promotion Foundation (2008), and has launched a second NCD strategy (2010-15) with subsequent plans to focus on preventive health.

Ministers and officials from regional and global development agencies will also attend the summit in Nuku'alofa.

Source: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/development-agenda/ [2]