Port of Spain Declaration for global NCD prevention
Date
2018-04-28
Authors
Chattu, Vijay Kumar
Sakhamuri, Sateesh
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Lancet
Abstract
As global health researchers working in the areas of NCDs and global health diplomacy, we were delighted to see the priority and emphasis given for global commitment to tackle the epidemic of NCDs in the Lancet Comment “The NCDs Cooperative: a call to action” (Sep 18, 2017)1. The author suggests excellent strategies like proposing a multi-stakeholder structure to serve as a holistic platform with transparency and accountability to negotiate policy space for NCDs. The commentary also highlights that none of the 80 disease-specific policies created do address holistically for NCDs, which require a multi-sectoral, partnership-based solution, however, we would also like to highlight the Port of Spain Declaration - “Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic NCDs” which was convened in September 2007. This Summit of CARICOM Heads of Government on NCDs was a “first in the world”, as their Declaration focused on the problem and the risks and gave clear policy directions for an inter-sectoral approach, with a 15 point declaration which addresses many key risk factors ranging from Tobacco, physical activity, healthy diet, health services, surveillance, mobilizing society and observing Caribbean wellness days. Through successful global health diplomacy and negotiations, this Caribbean declaration was elevated at a global level which finally resulted in the development of “Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of NCDs” on 19th September 20113. Therefore it is high time to ensure political commitment and intersectoral collaboration to form an agency like NCD cooperative through global health diplomacy.