More than 80 percent of noncommunicable diseases affect populations in low- or middle-income countries — yet NCDs aren’t always considered a development issue.
The Lancet Taskforce on NCDs and economics found a strong connection between controlling NCDs and economic growth, stating that “poverty drives and is driven by NCDs.” Despite the increasing problem of NCDs, NCDs haven’t found themselves on the global development health agenda.
“Traditionally, maternal and child health and immunization was the focus of primary health care … but what was left out was, again? NCDs,” Cherian Varghese, coordinator of WHO’s management of NCDs, told Devex.