Results for NCDs

New York Times reporting: The coronavirus must have infected someone with a weak immune system, allowing it to adapt and evolve for months into far more contagious variants, experts hypothesize. If true, the idea has implications for vaccination programs, particularly in countries that have not yet begun to immunize their populations, especially those with diabetes and other health conditions. People with compromised immune systems — such as cancer patients — should be among the first to be vaccinated, said a virus expert. The faster that group is protected, the lower the risk that their bodies turn into incubators for the world’s next supercharged mutant.

Growing evidence shows that COVID-19 survivors can suffer from long-term health effects, not least heart-related complications. All countries with high rates of obesity should be considering programs encouraging weight loss, healthier eating, and physical activity. The more we can reduce the heart-related and other complications of COVID-19, the more lives we will save. By Ifeanyi M. Nsofor.

A second regional workshop by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and its partners is being held in Nuku'alofa from August 28-30 aimed to find practical ways to combat Non Communicable Diseases.

Grant and sponsorship funding was awarded today by the Tonga Health Promotion Foundation to support healthy living initiatives to strengthen, prevent and control Non Communicable Diseases (NCD's) which have reached a critical level in Tonga.

At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, global heads of state are meeting on September 26-27 to highlight two major health threats. On the first day, they will discuss strategies to end tuberculosis (TB), an ancient bacterium that remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease. On the second day, world leaders will discuss plans to beat leading NCDs such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular and lung disease. Combined, NCDs are responsible for seven out of every ten deaths globally. By Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Prime Minister Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva is attracting world wide media attention after he made comments suggesting that Pacific Island leaders participate in a year long weight loss competition.

With obesity and diet-related diseases on the rise, and hunger and malnutrition affecting more people than ever before, scientists are focusing not only on how to feed the planet, but on what to feed it. Today, bad diets seem to have more staying power. Natural and raw foods are being replaced by ready-to-eat meals and processed foods. This trend has created an unhealthy globalized menu, one associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and shortened lives. By Eduardo Nilson.

In the Pacific, non-communicable diseases account for around 70% of all deaths, in Fiji that number is 80%, and the tragedy is that most of these deaths are preventable, Dr Tim Martyn of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation in Fiji told delegates from Small Island States, meeting in Suva. Delegates looked at a Global Action Plan to respond to the food and nutrition challenges. People are eating food they can afford and that "is what is making them sick,” he said.

The Pacific is on the global frontlines of the fight against Non-Communicable Diseases and the time has come for action with deadlines to reverse the crisis without delay, regional leaders heard at the opening of the Pacific Non-Communicable Diseases Summit in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, this morning.