WHO aims to avert 36m premature deaths from an 'invisible epidemic'

FT.com / World / International economy - WHO aims to avert 36m premature deaths from an 'invisible epidemic': "WHO aims to avert 36m premature deaths from an 'invisible epidemic'
By Frances Williams in Geneva
Published: October 5 2005 03:00 | Last updated: October 5 2005 03:00
Global action to cut premature deaths from chronic diseases could save the lives of 36m people over the next decade, the World Health Organisation says in a report today.

Diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease are by far the biggest killers, accounting for 60 per cent of all deaths around the world. That proportion is set to rise, WHO says.
Lifestyle changes such as urbanisation, a shift to processed foods and rising tobacco consumption are increasing the risks, especially in the developing world.
Eight in 10 of the projected 35m deaths from this 'invisible epidemic' in 2005 will be in low- and middle-income countries, with Africa now the only continent where chronic diseases are not the leading cause of death.
Cardiovascular disease (heart disease and strokes) will claim 17.5m lives this year, according to WHO, against 2.8m deaths from HIV/Aids, the most deadly infectious disease.
The report estimates that the economic impact of chronic diseases - through lower output and increased health spending - will cost countries such as China, India and Russia billions of dollars in national income over the next 10 years. Accumulated losses between 2005 and 2015 are put at $558bn (�465bn, �310bn) for China, $236bn for India and $303bn for Russia.
'The cost of inaction is clear and unacceptable,' says Lee Jong-wook, WHO director-general.
The world health agency is proposing a global goal to reduce the upward trend of chronic disease death rates by 2 per cent each year until 20"