Declaring War on Non-Communicable Diseases
Whether you want to believe it or not—non-communicable diseases are largely self-inflicted. This past year, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared war on “non-communicable diseases” (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and lung conditions like asthma and emphysema. NCDs account for more than 63 percent of all deaths worldwide, killing 36 million people a year. A recent WHO report said that the incidence of NCDs could be avoided or postponed with an expenditure of less than $1 per year per person in poorer countries and $3 per person in richer countries,