Commonwealth Takes Action: Leaders Join Forces to Combat NCDs & Mental Health Concerns

World Leaders Tackle Non-Communicable Diseases & Mental Health at Samoa Meet

“We continue to seek innovative ways to strengthen our partnerships with...”

Commonwealth nations pledge action on non-communicable diseases, mental health, and healthy aging. 'Aging Well in the Commonwealth' report offers roadmap to support lifelong health, wellbeing, and social inclusion.

World leaders and government officials have pledged to strengthen their efforts in combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health challenges. This commitment was made at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, during a side event titled 'Weaving a Healthy Commonwealth Aiga for Combating NCDs and Promoting Mental Health'.

The event, organized jointly by the Samoan Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization's (WHO) representative office in Samoa, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, highlighted the need for robust political commitment, collaboration, and community engagement to address these global health challenges. This call to action emphasizes the importance of collective responsibility in tackling NCDs and mental health issues.

The CHOGM, held from October 21-26, 2024, brings together leaders from 56 member countries to discuss global economic, environmental, and security challenges. The theme, 'One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth,' reflects the Commonwealth's focus on building resilience, boosting trade, innovation, and growth, while empowering its 1.5 billion young people.

Key areas of focus at the CHOGM include:

Democracy, Government, and Law: Strengthening democratic institutions and promoting good governance

Enonment and Climate Change: Addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development

Small States: Supporting the unique needs of small island developing states like Samoa

Society and Young People: Empowering youth and promoting social development

Trade and Economy: Fostering economic growth and cooperation among member states 

The commitment to tackling NCDs and mental health challenges is a significant step towards achieving the Commonwealth's goals of promoting health, well-being, and sustainable development.

“We continue to seek innovative ways to strengthen our partnerships with other sectors to reduce NCDs and improve mental health.

“The Samoan government is dedicated to fostering these collaborations to ensure sustainable and impactful health outcomes for our people.”

Representatives from various sectors, including health, education, sports, finance, agriculture, trade, and media, recently gathered to share insights and strategies on promoting healthier lifestyles and strengthening healthcare systems. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes are the leading causes of death globally, resulting in 41 million deaths annually, with 17 million of those deaths occurring before age 70.

These alarming statistics primarily affect developing nations, where 86% of premature NCD-related deaths occur. The Director General of Health in Samoa, Prof. Aiono Alec Ekeroma, emphasized his country's commitment to tackling NCDs and mental health issues, stating, “the Ministry of Health has successfully introduced the 'Package of Essential NCD Services Fa'a Samoa' into our communities, demonstrating our strong commitment to tackling NCDs and mental health issues.”

Factors Contributing to NCDs:

Unhealthy Diets: Consuming excessive salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats

Physical Inactivity: Lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyle

Tobacco Use: Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke

Air Pollution: Environmental factors contributing to respiratory diseases

To combat NCDs, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a comprehensive approach involving multiple sectors, including healthcare, finance, education, and agriculture. By working together, we can reduce the risk factors associated with NCDs and promote healthier lifestyles.

Dr. Kim Dickson, the WHO Representative for Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau, remarked that, tackling NCDs and mental health is not just a job for the health sector.

“It requires the dedicated involvement of the whole of government and the whole of society.

“By working together across different sectors and tapping into community strengths, we can significantly reduce the burden of NCDs and mental health conditions.”

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become a major concern for individuals under 30, who make up 60% of the Commonwealth's population. To address this issue, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda established the youth-led 'NCD Guiding Framework' in 2022. This framework aims to create a roadmap for collaborative efforts to tackle the underlying causes of NCDs and promote healthier lifestyles, especially among young people.

As Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland emphasized, “In Rwanda, we committed to take bold multisectoral action to reduce the incidence of NCDs.” This commitment highlights the need for a comprehensive approach involving multiple sectors, including healthcare, education, sports, finance, agriculture, trade, and media.

The 'NCD Guiding Framework' is a crucial step towards achieving this goal. It outlines strategic objectives to prevent NCDs through health promotion and reduction of risk factors, strengthen health systems for quality NCD early detection and care, and increase coordination mechanisms for NCD prevention and control across sectors. By working together, the Commonwealth nations can reduce the significant burden of NCDs on their populations.

Some key areas of focus include:

NCD Prevention: Reducing risk factors such as unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol consumption

Health System Strengthening: Improving access to quality healthcare, early detection, and treatment

Disease Surveillance: Enhancing research, monitoring, and evaluation systems for evidence-based interventions

Multisectoral Coordination: Fostering partnerships across sectors to address the social determinants of health

By addressing NCDs, the Commonwealth nations can promote healthier lifestyles, reduce premature deaths, and improve the overall well-being of their populations.

"L“This year here in Samoa, the Commonwealth remains committed to strengthening partnerships that support health equity and sustainable development.

“By coming together as a Commonwealth 'aiga' or family today, our leaders and stakeholders have underscored the collective resolve to combat NCDs and promote mental health.”

The event highlighted the importance of tackling non-communicable diseases and mental health issues, while also emphasizing the need to promote healthy aging. To achieve this, Prof Dame Black, the Commonwealth Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Aging Well, presented a report titled 'Aging Well in the Commonwealth: A Roadmap for Healthy Aging'. This report provides a comprehensive guide to addressing the challenges of aging and ensuring that individuals can live long, healthy, and fulfilling lives.

The report's focus on healthy aging is particularly significant, given the global aging phenomenon. With unprecedented global aging, societies must undertake all-of-society efforts to maximize the benefits and minimize the burdens of aging populations. The Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity, a similar initiative, describes a realistic vision of healthy longevity that could be achieved by 2050, including full inclusion of people of all ages, regardless of health or functional status, in all aspects of society.

To achieve this vision, the report recommends changes to health systems, social infrastructure, physical environments, education, work, and retirement. These changes can benefit older people directly, but also have a positive impact on people of all ages. Some key areas of focus include:

Social Infrastructure: 

Strengthening socioeconomic and community support, and enriching the livelihoods of the elderly population

Physical Environment: Creating age-friendly physical environments that promote healthy aging

Health Systems: Improving healthcare services, including prevention, treatment, and management of chronic diseases

Education and Work: Promoting lifelong learning and flexible work arrangements to support healthy aging

By implementing these changes, societies can promote healthy aging and ensure that individuals can live long, meaningful, and purpose-driven lives.

It stated that, “as people live longer by prioritising strategies to prevent NCDs, it is equally important that they continue to thrive and live productive lives.

“The event concluded with renewed commitments from various sectors and stakeholders to work together to combat NCDs and promote mental health, helping set the stage for continued collaboration and action within the Commonwealth.”