Today marks the kick-off of this year’s Global Week for Action on NCDs. The NCD community is coming together, louder than ever, to urge governments to step up, show leadership, and deliver on their promises. It’s Time to Lead! Please join the campaign coinciding with the 4th UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health (HLM4).
We have prepared a range of resources so that this week you can #ActOnNCDs both online and in person. For example:
- Share one of our customisable social messages or upload your own video, host a meeting, or write to a political leader.
- For more ideas on how to get involved, visit our Take Action and Resources pages.
Final UN political declaration
Following three months of tough negotiations in New York, the fourth Political Declaration on NCDs has been finalised. The final draft is published and will be formally adopted by governments at the HLM4.
NCDA has now published our formal response to the final Political Declaration. If you’ve been following our updates, you’ll know that the development of the Political Declaration was challenging and, at times, controversial process — and the final text is weaker than many had hoped. Even so, there are important reasons to celebrate, as outlined in our formal response.
HLM4 & UNGA80
The HLM4 itself is happening on Thursday 25th September from 10:00 – 18:00 in the UNHQ. The President of the General Assembly is yet to publish the full programme.
It is fantastic to see such prominence of NCDs throughout the UNGA80 week! According to our current count, there are over 60 NCD-related side events over 5 days, covering a whole range of different issues from prevention, access to care and health systems, financing, disease and risk factor specific issues, and community engagement.
Many of these events are being organised by NCDA partners and members, and many include strong civil society and lived experience voices. For a full overview of side events happening during the week, please see NCDA’s calendar of events.
Key resources and reports
In addition to NCDA’s response to the final Political Declaration, and campaign resources, there are a number of new policy reports and papers being published ahead of the HLM4 which provide useful data and framing for the HLM4, including by NCDA. Please see a summary below:
- NCD Alliance policy report – “Delivering on health and financial protection for all: Financing benchmarks for essential NCD services and options for improving access to affordable NCD medicines”. Authored by David Watkins at University of Washington, published on 10th September
- Lancet NCD Countdown 2030 paper - “Benchmarking progress in non-communicable diseases: a global analysis of cause-specific mortality from 2001 to 2019” and press release. NCD Countdown 2030 is a research collaboration founded by NCDA, WHO, The Lancet and Imperial College London, to track and benchmark performance against the global NCD targets, measure coverage of effective interventions in countries, and focus on good practice in terms of clinical and public health interventions.
- WHO update of Saving Lives, Spending Less – the global investment case for NCDs. Launched today by WHO, it provides updated economic data on NCDs.
- WHO Global Hypertension Report – to be launched at the High blood pressure, high stakes: Translating commitment into life-saving action event on 23 September in NYC.
Thank you for being part of the 2025 Global Week. The more committed people who #ActOnNCDs, the greater difference we can make, together!