According to this commentary in the Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, existing approaches to the prevention and control of NCDs have neglected a large and diverse group of severe NCDs and injuries (NCDIs) that lead to early deaths for children and adolescents, particularly those living in extreme poverty.
It highlights the urgent need to address the overlooked burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries among children and adolescents, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Despite global health efforts focusing primarily on infectious diseases and maternal-neonatal conditions, severe NCDs—such as rheumatic heart disease, type 1 diabetes, and sickle cell disease—and injuries contribute significantly to early death and disability in young populations.
The authors, representing the UNICEF & NCDI Poverty Network, argue that current global health frameworks and funding mechanisms inadequately reflect this burden, leaving millions of vulnerable children without access to essential care.
They call for:
- the inclusion of severe pediatric NCDs and injuries in global and national child health agendas, emphasizing equity, integration into primary care, and financial protection.
- a shift in policy towards integration and investment to ensure that children with these conditions are not excluded from life-saving interventions.
Recommended citation:
Gupta, N., Mocumbi, A., Shafique, F., Bermejo, R., Bukhman, G., et al., (2025). Child and adolescent mortality from severe NCDs and injuries: a call for inclusion. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health 9(10): 689-691. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(25)00187-7