Leadership the theme of the 2024 Global Week for Action on NCDs

 

31 July 2024

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ACDPA is on the lookout for leadership ahead of the 2024 Global Week for Action on NCDs (non-communicable or chronic diseases) taking place 15-22 October 2024.

 

Between now and the next UN High Level Meeting on NCDs in September 2025, the global health and chronic disease community will be focussing on leadership as an enabler of progress for chronic disease prevention, management, and care, and improving peoples' health and quality of life. 

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In Australia and around the world, it's time to #LeadOnNCDs. 

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According to the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare's ‘Australia’s Health 2024’ report, chronic conditions, like cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and lung disease are among those contributing to 90% of Australia's non-fatal burden of disease.

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AIHW's biennial stocktake of Australia's health also documented that despite living, on average, some of the longest lives in the world:

• More people are spending more of their time in ill health,​

• Three in five Australians live with a chronic condition,

• Significant health inequities exist between communities,

• Up to 40% of disease burden, including illness and early death, is preventable,

• Key modifiable risk factors include unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and alcohol and tobacco use,

• Many factors outside of health influence health and illness, often inequitably and making inequities worse.

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Improving health and reducing the impact of chronic diseases requires leadership and action across society.
 

Determinants like poverty, education, housing, employment, commercial practices, culture, play a major role in health outcomes.

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To accelerate the changes needed to deliver better health for all, we are looking for leadership in and beyond the health sector. 

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Progress requires investment, coordination, communities, accountability and ambition.

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Chronic conditions account for around one-third of Australia's national health budget, but spending on prevention is limited to around 1.5 percent, falling far short of a National Preventive Health Strategy target pursuing 5% of health budget spending by 2030.  

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We need health to be seen as a key to unlocking social and economic benefits to individuals and communities.

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During the 2024 Global Week for Action campaign ACDPA will be celebrating examples of leadership for chronic disease prevention from across Australia, and sharing calls for more leadership, with more updates to come. 

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What can you do to prepare for the Global Week for Action?​

• Follow and amplify ACDPA at @ACDPAlliance on X(Twitter), ACDPA on LinkedIn, or ACDPA on Instagram -

• Raise your voice and share your story. Drop us a line via Contact Us, & Tag us on social media @ACDPAlliance

• Join NCD Alliance's Call to Lead

• Check out the activations happening all around the world through the #ActOnNCDs and/or #LeadOnNCDs hashtag across social media. Visit www.ActOnNCDs.org for more information about the campaign.

• Take a quick online risk test to understand your risk of disease and visit your GP for a health check.

• Complete ACDPA's survey to share examples of leadership

 

The Global Week for Action on NCDs is an initiative led by the global NCD Alliance, of which ACDPA is a member.