The UN high-level meeting on NCDs in September 2011 accepted the recommendation of Pearce and colleagues to include the 25×25 strategy to tackle the global epidemic of NCD. Margaret Chan, Director General of WHO stated that “It is not just Big Tobacco anymore. Public health must also contend with Big Food, Big Soda, and Big Alcohol. All of these industries fear regulation, and protect themselves by using the same tactics”.
The increasing burden of NCDs poses an enormous threat to populations and health systems across the globe. The 25×25 strategy seeks to reduce preventable mortality. The WHO Global NCD Action Plan 2013—2020 includes many disorders, the four disorders specified in the 25 ×25 strategy (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory disease) account for 87% of all deaths from NCDs. This plan lists nine voluntary national targets i.e. diabetes, obesity, reduced alcohol consumption, increased physical activity, reduced dietary salt, reduced smoking, improved blood pressure control, and enhanced treatment of those at risk are the major NCDs. The plan will acknowledge social, economic as well as political determinants of disease. However, making changes into the policy is less clear.
“The 25×25 strategy needs to be implemented in existing health systems in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in primary care. This approach would address NCDs in broader social, economic, and health-care contexts, adaptable to local circumstances.”
Special Implications for PTs
In the past decade energy expenditure has decreased markedly because of changes in the livelihood, including urban design, safety concerns, the rise of the car, and the near demise of public transport.
The dire need is environmental change so that physical exercise becomes part of daily life again, rather than being a lifestyle choice. If exercise were a pill, it would be one of the most cost-effective drugs ever invented. People can get lot of benefit from being more physically active.
Of all the health professionals dealing with NCDs, PTs have a big role in prevention as well as management of NCDs.
Thumb rule is increasing Physical Activity in order to meet up the 25×25 strategy success.
The road to 25×25: how can the five-target strategy reach its goal?
25×25 strategy for the burden of non-communicable diseases