Partnering for Change: The Role of the Private Sector
By: Rhona Applebaum
The global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is growing at an alarming rate. NCDs have reached every corner of the world, overtaking infectious diseases to become the leading cause of death, illness and disability, as well as a central factor in escalating health costs.
NCDs are no longer primarily identified with development and wealth. On the contrary, the impact of such ailments is far greater in low- and middle-income countries, where 80 percent of NCD-related deaths occur. Moreover, NCDs are a leading threat to social and economic development, and they exacerbate inequalities between countries and populations.
Key factors fueling this rapid growth in NCDs include increased life expectancy and the aging population, urbanization with changes in consumption patterns and lifestyle, including tobacco use, physical inactivity, drug and alcohol abuse, and unhealthy diets. Nearly 35 million people and about 3.5 million children die annually from NCDs related to micronutrient inadequacies.
