The global health community is putting its lobbying efforts into getting support to tackle non-communicable diseases in developing countries for 2011. This marks a change from the 'traditional' health area of HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB normally at the heart of global health campaigning. Non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease have normally been associated with more wealthy countries, but campaigners are urging the international community to take action to address these growing health issues in developing countries as well. WHO Director General, Margret Chan underlined the importance of NCDs as she launched a new report by the World Health Organisation on NCDs; "For some countries, it is no exaggeration to describe the situation as an impending disaster; a disaster for health, for society, and most of all for national economies"
The WHO has put NCDs on their 2011 agenda with the report and have convened a recent WHO Global Forum in NCDs in Moscow. The WHO has also hosted a Ministerial on the same issue. In addtion, there will be a UN Summit on NCDs in New York in September, alongside the annual General Assembly.
The Global Health Council is working with member organisations such as the American Cancer Society, LIVESTRONG, and the NCD Alliance, to profile NCDs at conferences and events this year including the Global Health Council annual conference in Washington in June and the UN Summit in September.