Profile of capacity and response to noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors in the Region of the Americas. Country capacity survey results, 2015

ABSTRACT

[Preface]. The rise in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is increasingly undermining sustainable development, especially in low- and middle-income countries which suffer the highest burden of disease. Over the past several decades, countries in the Americas have made important gains in economic and social development, as well as considerable progress in reducing vaccine preventable infectious diseases, undernutrition, access to potable water and sanitation, and improving maternal and child health outcomes. While this has resulted in overall improvements in population health, there are growing NCD-related challenges... This report is intended to call attention to the urgent need to accelerate national efforts and invest more resources to fulfill the NCD commitments. Countries in the Americas are called upon to scale up their efforts to prevent and control NCDs. If the status quo continues, the social, human and economic costs associated with NCDs will overwhelm our health systems and economies and challenge the Region’s ability to successfully pursue the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.