WHO policies & strategies

WHO has developed policies and strategies based on the lessons learned in prevention and control of NCDs. The goal of these policies and strategies is to support Member States in their efforts to reduce the toll of morbidity, disability and premature mortality related to NCDs.

The objectives are to:

• Reduce the level of exposure of individuals and populations to the main common and shared modifiable risk factors for NCDs, namely tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol and their determinants;
• Strengthen health care for people with NCDs by implementing norms and guidelines for cost-effective interventions, with priority given to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, oral health and Noma, and sickle cell disease. Health promotion across the life course, prevention of the most important components for reducing the burden of premature mortality and disability due to such diseases, Health care innovations and health sector management that address needs arising from the epidemics of NCDs are critical;
• Raise the priority accorded to NCDs at national levels, integrate NCDs prevention and control into policies and plans across all government departments and promote interventions to reduce the main shared modifiable risk factors;
• Establish and strengthen national policies and plans for the prevention and control of NCDs in line with the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach.

The following policies, strategies and regulations for NCDs prevention and management at regional level had been developed and are being implemented in countries:

Noncommunicable Diseases: A Strategy for the African Region (2.41 MB)

Cancer Prevention and Control: A Strategy for the WHO African Region (49.94 kB)

Diabetes Prevention and Control: A startegy for the WHO African Region (99.29 kB)

Cardiovascular Diseases in the African Region: Current Situation and Perspectives (117.15 kB)

Oral Health African Strategy (592.47 kB)

Sickle-Cell Disease in the African Region: Current Situation and the Way Forward (52.09 kB)