FORUT, as a Norway-based international development NGO, has been involved in the NCD agenda since 2011.
We are concerned about the burden for Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) from NCDs. We stress the need to include this in the development agenda. We also have a special focus on mental health as an NCD and on alcohol as a shared risk factor across all NCDs.
For the 4th UNHLM NCDs, FORUT aligns with the NCD Alliance in requesting that the HLM should result in the approval of a forward-looking, concise, and action-oriented outcome document with specific, measurable commitments that boost NCD investment and accelerate action on NCDs by strengthening their integration with other global health agendas and across the Sustainable Development Goals.
FORUT wants to bring the following issues and policy requests to the attention of Member States:
- NCDs, risk factors and integration with the UHC and SDG agenda.
- FORUT requests Member States to address NCDs and the risk factors for NCDs as part of the SDG and UHC agendas.
- Support for low- and middle-income countries.
- FORUT requests Member States to place equity and the need of LMICs for assistance in addressing NCDs, including evidence-based measures to mitigate risk factors and unhealthy commodities, to the forefront of the outcome document and make resources available for LMICs to implement effective regulatory policies.
- Protection against vested interests.
- FORUT requests Member States to address conflicts of interest in the development of the outcome document and ensure that development policies related to NCD risk factors are free from industry influence and prioritise public health.
- Mental Health – need for broader perspective and a multi-stakeholder engagement
- FORUT requests Member States to commit to integrating mental health services into primary health care and engage civil society in providing care and support at the community level towards achieving the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda and to de-stigmatise mental illness.
- Alcohol – a major risk factor for NCDs
- FORUT requests Member States’ commitment to implementing the WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan, specifically the cost-effective alcohol policy measures identified in the NCD Global Action Plan and the WHO SAFER alcohol policy initiative.
The full policy position is available for download in FORUT’s Resources page.
