Global Challenge: Non-Communicable Disease

Running head: GLOBAL CHALLENGE NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
Global Challenge: Non-Communicable Disease
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Author Note

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GLOBAL CHALLENGE NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
Introduction
The following paper will review The Global Action Plan for the Prevention and
Control of Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) during the tenure of 2013 to 2020 by the
World Health Organisation (2013). The review will be done based on the problem and
priorities highlighted in the policy along with the policy action framework including
challenges and recommendation.
Evidence that underpins the policy making
The Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable
Disease (NCD) during the tenure of 2013 to 2020 by the World Health Organisation (2013)
was designed with a vision to free the world from the burden of the non-communicable
disease (NCD). This vision is based on the past 10 years of research conducted over the mode
development and management of NCD followed by difference in the rate of occurrence of the
NCD across difference socio-economic group. The goal of this global health policy is to
reduce preventable and avoidable mortality, morbidity and disability of NCD by application
of multisectoral collaboration and effective cooperation at local, regional, national and at the
global levels. The outcome will be highest attainable standards of the health and wellbeing
and productivity at every age along with recovering the barrier of socio-economic
determinants of health causing the disease burden (World Health Organisation 2013).. The
main over-reaching principles of this policy include life-course approach, effective
empowerment of people and the communities, application of the evidence-based practice for
the recovery of the NCD, promotion and universal health coverage. Other principle includes
universal health coverage, application of human right approach, equity-based approach,
multi-sectoral action approach and national action and international cooperation with the
promotion of solidarity (World Health Organisation [WHO] 2013).

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GLOBAL CHALLENGE NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
Lessons learnt from addressing NCD within the last 10 years
The main lessons learnt while addressing the NCD management during the last 10
years includes NCD are preventable under the proper application of the healthy lifestyle
habits. Unhealthy lifestyle habits like increased level of smoking, consumption of alcohol,
lack of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle and consumption of junk food is the main reason
behind the development of the non-communicable diseases during the later stages of life like
type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Another lesson that has been learnt while
addressing NCD includes people who belong from the poor socio-economic background are
more prone towards the development of the NCD. This is because lack of proper health
literacy, lack of access of proper healthcare and lack of employment.
Key issues that need to be addressed
The principle issues that needed to be addressed at current moment include reduction
in the risk of premature mortality arising from the cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer
and chronic respiratory disease by the effective implementation of the health lifestyle habits
(WHO 2013). Ding et al. (2016) are of the opinion that the reduction in the harmful use of the
alcohol and smoking of tobacco must also be addressed in a priority level in order to reduce
the chances of the developing NCD. This is because increased consumption of alcohol during
the early years of life increases the threat of developing cardiovascular diseases, CPOD and
type 2 diabetes mellitus. WHO (2013) also identified reduction in salt and sodium in the diet
plan of mass as increased intake of the salt in the diet increase the predisposition of
developing chronic hypertension. Apart from healthy lifestyle interventions, WHO also give
preference of increase in the health literacy about the NCD diseases and factors affecting the
development of NCD so that the community dwelling mass must take part in the health
screening programs in order to aid in the process of early identification of the disease . Health

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GLOBAL CHALLENGE NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
literacy must also be undertaken in order to increase the therapy adherence along with the
increase in the disease self-management skills. Mendenhall et al. (2017) highlighted in their
study that increase in the knowledge of the disease self-management skills help in improving
the effective management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Initial prevention of the NCD
failed to cover the effective promotion of the health literacy and thus hampering a
comprehensive prevention of the NCD.
Key global actors and leadership in NCD policy
Vaidya (2018) is of the opinion that an ultimate guardian of health of a particular race
or population, residing at any particular geographic location is the government. Thus the
main global actors for the effective implementation of the NCD prevention policy in
respective country are their government. The role of the government is to prove the quality
leadership in order to ensure proper institutional, legal, financial and other associated service
arrangements for the effective prevention and control of NCD at the grass root level. Diem et
al. (2016) further highlighted that the in order to apply evidence-based practice under the
public health settings in order to prevent the occurrence of the NCD, it is the duty of the
leader to handle both behaviour related factors while managing the underlying social and
economic conditions. Thus in order to effectively handle the behaviour related factor of the
public and to promote effective health education among the mass, the nurses both the
community health nurses and the mental health nurses are regarded as the main leaders
behind the comprehensive implementation of the NCD. Beside the nurses, the public health
officers in the respective countries must also work in unison to address the challenges in the
evidence-based decision making process and thereby helping to implement the capacity
building efforts (Diem et al. (2016). WHO (2013) global health policy for the prevention of
the NCD thus includes public health leaders from the different countries along with leaders in