26 June 2023
Introduction From 13 to 15 December 2022, a significant gathering of global and regional stakeholders and experts took place in Cairo, Egypt. The purpose of the meeting was to address the integration of noncommunicable disease (NCD) care in emergency preparedness and response. This event marked the first in a series...
16 June 2023
Introduction: Surveying the NCD burden, assessing risk factors and driving change Pakistan initiated a comprehensive STEPS survey to assess the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and their associated risk factors. With NCDs being a leading cause of death and disability in the country, the Ministry of Health undertook this survey in...
16 June 2023
Introduction: Oman’s journey towards understanding and controlling cancer trends Oman recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its population-based cancer registry, a significant milestone in the country's efforts to fight cancer. With cancer being recognized as a major health issue in Oman, the establishment of this registry in 1996 was a crucial...
13 June 2023
Introduction: Improving cancer data collection and initiating the Basmah initiative The Ministry of Health and Prevention in United Arab Emirates (UAE) established the UAE national cancer registry to gather comprehensive data on cancer diagnoses among UAE residents. This registry has played a pivotal role in informing the National Cancer Control Programme...
13 June 2023
Introduction: Integrating NCDs into primary care for enhanced data collection and tailored initiatives The integration of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) into primary care in Oman has proven to be a valuable approach for data collection and surveillance of selected NCDs. This initiative, led by the Ministry of Health, has enabled the assessment of...
12 June 2023
Introduction: Establishing Qatar's comprehensive death registry system The Ministry of Public Health in Qatar has successfully established its death registry system, aimed at gathering comprehensive and accurate data on death rates. This system plays a crucial role in formulating evidence-informed policies and programmes, as well as measuring their effectiveness. By tracking the...
08 June 2023
Telemedicine and mHealth in United Arab Emirates Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) pose a significant public health challenge in United Arab Emirates, requiring ongoing and long-term management services. NCDs are the leading causes of death and disability in United Arab Emirates, accounting for 77% of deaths in 2018. Among these NCD-related deaths, more...
08 June 2023
Telemedicine in Sudan Telemedicine was implemented in Sudan to address the significant disruption in healthcare services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for 52% of deaths in Sudan, with half of them being premature. The primary healthcare centers operated by the Federal Ministry of Health served as the...
07 June 2023
Digital health services in Qatar Digital health services in Qatar were rapidly implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly to ensure the provision of essential care for people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and other health needs, all within the safety of their homes. Previously, primary health care centers and...
07 June 2023
Remote mental health services in Qatar The COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary measures of staying at home and maintaining physical distancing instilled fear and anxiety among the public in Qatar, leading to adverse effects on mental health and overall well-being. Furthermore, individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions experienced heightened symptoms due...
07 June 2023
Telemedicine and mhealth in Oman In Oman, the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is alarmingly high, contributing to 72% of all deaths in the country. Specifically, nearly one-third of the population suffers from high blood pressure. To address the health needs of people living with NCDs, the healthcare system in Oman...
07 June 2023
Technology and mHealth in Saudi Arabia The utilization of technology and mobile health (mHealth) has become crucial in Saudi Arabia's response to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs and their associated risk factors have emerged as significant public health concerns in the country, accounting for approximately 78% of all deaths, with cardiovascular diseases...
07 June 2023
Remote tobacco cessation services in Jordan The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures disrupted access to tobacco cessation services provided through traditional clinics. To address this issue, the Ministry of Health collaborated with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship and the National Call Center to establish a helpline for remote...
07 June 2023
Digital health and telemedicine approaches In the Islamic Republic of Iran, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) contribute to approximately 81% of all deaths, with a 15% probability of death between the ages of 30 and 70 due to the four main NCDs. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, digital health and telemedicine modalities...
31 May 2023
Introduction The WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (WHO PEN) serves as a comprehensive set of fundamental standards and services designed for addressing noncommunicable diseases (NCD) in low resource settings. Moreover, it acts as a crucial initial step towards integrating NCDs into primary healthcare systems. Recognizing the significant impact of...
31 May 2023
Introduction Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has posed a significant burden on Sudan's healthcare system. In response, cardiologists from the Sudan Heart Society took the initiative to establish a programme for RHD control. They developed the SUR I CAAN framework, which emphasized Surveillance, Integration, Collaboration, Awareness, Advocacy and Training. Over time, the...
27 May 2023
Introduction Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) pose a significant burden on the health and well-being of the population in the Islamic Republic of Iran. To address this challenge, the Iranian Noncommunicable Diseases Committee was established by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 2014. This initiative, characterized by high-level commitment and a...
25 May 2023
Introduction In the midst of protracted emergencies, the focus of humanitarian health response has traditionally been on acute conditions, often overlooking the significant impact of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries and disaster-prone areas. Syria, for instance, witnessed a high mortality rate from NCDs, with 45% of all deaths...
18 December 2022
18 December 2022 | From 27 to 29 November 2022, more than 100 global and regional stakeholders and experts from across WHO (global, regional and country offices) and ministries of health convened virtually to address implementation and strengthening of noncommunicable disease (NCD) monitoring systems at primary health care level to...
04 September 2022
4 September 2022 | The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean presents a special edition of the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal (EMHJ) on palliative care. Featuring six original research articles, three reports, one review, one commentary and two editorials on different aspects of palliative care across the Region, the...
25 August 2022
Initiative Lebanon has a high burden of cancer. In 2018 alone, 17 294 individuals were diagnosed, and 8 976 individuals died of cancer in the country. The high cancer prevalence, combined with an ageing population, re-emphasizes the increasing need for palliative care services in the country. Palliative care services can improve...
01 May 2022
© Mustafa Altamimi COVID-19 and NCDs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region As of 27 March 2022, there have been more than 21 million COVID-19 confirmed cases in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, more than 20 million recovered, and more than 340 000 deaths. The case fatality rate is 1.6% and the recovery...
12 April 2022
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean organized a virtual informal consultation with people living with noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions in the Region in coordination with the WHO Global Coordination Mechanism on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases. The consultation aimed at exploring...
16 December 2021
Initiative Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are currently causing an estimated 109 000 deaths every year in Afghanistan. In order to address this burden, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health jointly with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners deployed the NCD emergency kit in four primary health care centers in different provinces...
31 January 2019
31 January 2019 – At the Seventy-first World Health Assembly in May 2018, Member States endorsed resolution WHA71.14 on rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. The resolution called for WHO to launch a coordinated global response to rheumatic heart disease. In response, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean,...
31 January 2019
4 February 2019 – On World Cancer Day, 4 February, the World Health Organization is calling on communities and individuals alike to show support, raise their collective voices, take personal action and press their governments to do more. Cancer is one of the world’s biggest killers. This theme this year...
14 June 2018
The World Health Organization Independent High-level Commission on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) released a new report calling for urgent action on NCDs and mental health disorders. High-level political commitment and the immediate scaling up of actions is needed to address these conditions. Noncommunicable diseases are killers NCDs are the world’s biggest killers and...
01 February 2017
1 February 2017 – In observance of World Cancer Day, 4 February, the World Health Organization recommends that health services focus on diagnosing and treating cancer early, so more people can survive this disease. WHO data indicate that 8.8 million people die from cancer every year. The majority of deaths...
09 November 2016
9 November 2016 – The International Diabetes Federation celebrates World Diabetes Day every year on 14 November. This year, the theme for the Day is Eyes on diabetes. The campaign focuses on promoting the importance of screening to ensure early diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and treatment to reduce the...
31 January 2016
1 February 2016 – On World Cancer Day, 4 February, the World Health Organization is calling on communities and individuals alike to take action to prevent and control cancer, one of the world’s biggest killers. More than 30% of cancers can be prevented through the adoption of healthy lifestyles. Raising...
12 November 2015
12 November 2015 – In observance of World Diabetes Day, WHO is calling on: individuals and families to improve their diet and physical activity to prevent diabetes and ensure it is being effectively managed by people living with the disease; governments to effect policies that promote healthy eating and active...
05 November 2015
5 November 2015 -- Every year, 40 million people need palliative care worldwide and, 86% do not receive it. Palliative care is the care given to patients and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness, whether physical, psychosocial or spiritual. It is an approach that improves the...
26 October 2015
26 October 2015 -- The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the World Health Organization, has reviewed more than 800 articles on the carcinogenicity of red and processed meats to humans. A Working Group of 22 Experts convened by the IARC Monograph Programme classified consumption...
30 September 2015
Watching Manchester United score goals has long set Garo Hagop’s pulse racing – in a good way. But recently, he has banished more unhealthy sources of high blood pressure thanks to joint efforts by Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health and WHO to target cardiovascular diseases. The 64-year-old Beirut public school concierge,...
29 September 2015
Today, on World Heart Day, WHO is calling on individuals to become more physically active. It is encouraging countries to promote physical activity and support decision-makers in promoting more active lives from early childhood and throughout life to reduce the number of premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases. Physical activity incorporates...
13 September 2015
Amman, Jordan, 13 September 2015 – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean organized in Jordan a forum on unopposed marketing of unhealthy food and beverages targeting children on 13–14 September 2015. This event is part of WHO’s initiative to fight overweight and obesity, a condition...
06 September 2015
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, together with the NCD Alliance, held the first ever meeting with civil society organizations from 1 to 2 September to discuss and agree on a way forward for strengthening the civil society movement to prevent and control the escalating...
06 August 2015
Accelerating action on cancer control can save lives Cancer is ranked among the top four leading causes of death in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, following cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases and injuries. The incidence is expected to almost double in the next 2 decades, from an estimated 555 318 new cases in...
06 August 2015
Stop illicit trade of tobacco products Cigarettes, shisha and smokeless tobacco are being smuggled across borders. These illicit products are untaxed and unregulated, with no health warnings, packaging or labeling requirements; which makes them cheaper, more readily available and accessible, especially to young and poor people. Affordability and accessibility lead to increased...
06 August 2015
Consume less salt to avoid high blood pressure and heart disease High salt intake is one of the factors leading to the increase in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide. NCDs are the leading cause of premature death in the 21st century. Cardiovascular disease and stroke are two of the main NCDs often...
13 July 2015
19 JANUARY 2015 ¦ GENEVA - Urgent government action is needed to meet global targets to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and prevent the annual toll of 16 million people dying prematurely – before the age of 70 – from heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer and diabetes, according...
13 July 2015
14 January 2015 - The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), WHO’s specialized cancer agency, strongly disagrees with the conclusion of a scientific report on the causes of human cancer by Dr Cristian Tomasetti and Dr Bert Vogelstein, published in the journal “Science” on 2 January 2015 and widely...
07 July 2015
In 2014, the World Health Assembly adopted the global target of a 30% relative reduction in the prevalence of tobacco use by 2025, as part of the monitoring framework for noncommunicable diseases. Countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are taking steps to this effect, and are working with WHO to...
02 June 2015
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was established in 1965 with the main goal of identifying the causes of cancer so preventive measures can be taken against them. Based in Lyon, France, the agency coordinates and conducts epidemiological and laboratory research concentrating on human cancer and the relationships between...
02 June 2015
As quitting smoking is the best way to reduce cancer, WHO is helping implement powerful tobacco controls Tobacco use is the world’s leading preventable cause of death, killing nearly 6 million people annually. About one third die from cancer. Left unchecked, global tobacco-related deaths could rise to over 8 million by...
29 April 2015
In July 2014, world leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly to assess efforts made since 2011 in controlling NCDs, such as heart disease and stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. The WHO NCD country profiles 2014 show progress has been insufficient and uneven. The report provides an updated...