The UN Interagency Task Force and the World Health Organisation Special Programme on Primary Health Care have awarded Rwanda NCD Alliance in recognition of the organisation's work in building multi-sectoral collaboration on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Rwanda.

The alliance brings together several civil society groups that are geared towards fighting and prevention of NCDs.

NCD Alliance was also awarded for supporting the establishment of the National NCD Multi-Sectoral Coordination Committee, and by assisting the Government in implementing the National Strategy and Costed Action Plan for Prevention and Control of NCDs

The 2022 Awards were presented during the 77th UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

"It is an incredible honour to be recognized globally for our active role in encouraging multi-sectoral collaboration on NCDs in Rwanda. We recognise our partners who ultimately helped us along the way, including the Ministry of Health of Rwanda through the Rwanda Biomedical Center,” said Joseph Mucumbitsi, Chairperson, Rwanda NCD Alliance

Rwanda’s National NCD Strategy was launched in September 2021, and its development was supported by the Rwanda NCD Alliance who is acknowledged as a key implementing partner.

This strategy is the result of several sectors’ collaboration involving health experts and practitioners, government, and other stakeholders from diverse sectors, as well as community members including people living with NCDs.

With this "all-of-society” approach, the strategy is expected to strengthen the existing decentralization and integration of NCD services as well as the Universal Health Coverage system, allowing NCD care to reach all individuals and communities across the country.

The strategy outlines how Rwf358 billion will be used during the period 2020-25 to guide action in tackling NCDs through four strategic objectives

"We congratulate the Rwanda NCD Alliance for winning this prestigious award recognising outstanding contribution to multi-sectoral action. This alliance unifies civil society and involves people living with NCDs, liaising with its government in support of the National NCD Strategy and in promoting multi-sectoral coordination. This award highlights what strong civil society can do to accelerate action on NCDs,” said Cristina Parsons Perez, the Capacity Development Director, NCD Alliance

The National NCD Strategy has the over-arching goal to reduce premature deaths between the ages of 30 and 70 dying of NCDs by 25 per cent by 2025.

It also aims to demonstrate how a multi-sectoral approach, bringing together sports, food and nutrition, trade, environment, education, and other local government ministries, supports a healthier future.

NCDs now ‘top killers globally’

From heart disease to cancer and diabetes, NCDs now outnumber infectious diseases as the "top killers globally,” the WHO said in a report released during the General Assembly.

The report says that one person under the age of 70 dying every two seconds from an NCD.

The report and new data portal, was launched on the sidelines of the General Assembly, at an event co-organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) together with Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Key among them are cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke; cancer; and diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases – as well as mental health illnesses.

Together they account for nearly three-quarters of deaths in the world, taking 41 million lives every year.

The report titled, ‘Invisible numbers: The true extent of NCDs and what to do about them,’ highlights NCDs statistics to illustrate the true scale of the threats and risk factors they pose.

It also shows cost-effective and globally applicable interventions that can lower those numbers and save lives and money.

To date, only a handful of countries are on track to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing early deaths from NCDs by a third.

WHO said that the new information offers a chance to address the issue and recommends spending more on prevention.

Investing US$18 billion a year across all low and middle-income countries could generate net economic benefits of US$2.7 trillion by 2030.