This is the first-ever political declaration to jointly address Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and mental health, adopted at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with specific targets for 2030 (refer infographic).
About the DeclarationExpanded Scope: New NCDs areas included like oral health, lung health, childhood cancer, etc.New Determinants Covered: Air pollution, clean cooking, lead exposure & hazardous chemicals.Digital Health Risks: included for the first time, like harm from social media, excessive screen time, misinformation & disinformation.Stronger regulation: For tobacco, unhealthy foods, trans fats & e-cigarettes.Whole-of-government & whole-of-society approach: includes engagement of civil society, youth, persons with disabilities, private sector.Clear accountability: With the UN Secretary-General reporting on targets & WHO support.Significance of the declarationNCDs cause ~18 million premature deaths/year.They tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.Mental health conditions affect 1+ billion people globally.They both are driven by common, preventable risk factors: tobacco, unhealthy diets, alcohol, inactivity, air pollution.Initiatives taken in India for NCDsAffordableMedicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT): for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases etc.Eat Right India movement by FSSAI promotes healthy eating.Fit India Movement, 2019: to promote a physically active lifestyle and make fitness an integral part of daily life in India.Mental HealthNational Mental Health Programme (NMHP), 1982: to ensure availability and accessibility of minimum mental healthcare for all in the foreseeable future.Other: Tele- MANAS, Manodarpan, etc.