Global Health Policy

I fully agree with the importance to pay more attention to non-communicable chronic diseases. But we have to do more 'to make the case'. Clearly the control of communicable diseses contributes more to achieving the MDG's. But is it known what the impact of non-communicable chronic diseases is on poverty (reduction) ? What is the economic story behind it ?
It will be difficult to loose the attention for the MDG's but resources and systems are needed also to deal with (the prevention !!) chonic diseases through lifestyles, environment and nutrition.

Ghana is currently in such position to have to deal with the triple burden of diseases: communicable diseases are still common, reproductive health is poor and non-communicable diseases are rapidly rising.

Yet it is not sure whether financial inputs into the sector will increase too.

Because of information I get from the newsletters of Doctors Without Borders, I know a little something about these horrendous chronic diseases that no one organization can effectively address except in certain areas. However, though the motive may not be altruistic, Exxon Mobil is attacking malaria in Indonesia and Africa on a huge scale. Maybe we need to approach other large corporations to "adopt" a disease or country, etc.

Susan, I love your idea about getting companies to adopt-a-chronic-disease. Maybe even a competition for the company that makes the most progress in raising awareness or changing a specific behavior? Although we know such efforts can't solve the entire problem, chronic diseases in developing countries sorely need to be noticed in order for preventive behaviors to take place; and evidence suggests that companies can improve their bottom lines by promoting health in their own workforces.

The spread of cardiovascular diseases to developing countries can be likened to that of a communicable disease. Global trade liberalisation and the globalisation of communications media and improved international transport allow cardiovascular risk factors to jump easily from one country to another. Spread amongst the newly-infected country depends on the rate at which newly-infected individuals infect others (shared socio-economic circumstances) and this depends on factors such as geographical homogeneity (urbanisation) and ease of transmission in a susceptible environment (high penetration of behavioural changes and acceptance), with some having a higher resistance to infection (lower socio-economic status) than others. The virulence of the organism (the high uptake and persistence of unhealthy behaviours) and slow recovery rate from infection (poor resources for prevention and control of cardiovascular disease) determine persistence of the disease in the new population, as does the long asymptomatic latent period. Cross-infection (already high levels of blood pressure in China and insulin resistance in South Asia) and lack of competition from protective factors (the social acceptance of obesity) increases the burden on particular countries.
Hence, when planning a control programmes for cardiovascular disease, all these aspects need to be taken into consideration. There is no vaccine...