By: Kimberly Reed, Executive Director, International Food Information Council Foundation Date: 7/29/11
As an update to my blog post from May 17 – “Remember the People”: Update from the 2011 World Health Assembly – the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation has been extremely engaged with global stakeholders on the topic of noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention and control over the past few months.
What are “NCDs”? This is a term that you will be hearing more and more about and it is very likely that you already know someone who has an NCD. In a nutshell, NCDs include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory diseases and, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), cause 60% of all deaths globally, with more than 80% occurring in developing countries. WHO attributes NCDs to poor diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful use of alcohol.
IFIC Foundation and the UN. In June, we participated in a United Nations (UN) Civil Society Hearing as part of the preparatory process for the historic 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), which will take place at the Head of State and Government level on September 19-20 in NYC. In response to a UN request, we also submitted written comments to President of the UN General Assembly. (See the accompanying photo of Janet Voûte, Vice President, Global Head of Public Affairs, Nestlé S.A., and Co-Chair of the International Food and Beverage Alliance, on the "big screen" in the UN General Assembly Hall presenting comments during the Civil Society Hearing. Ms. Voûte also will be speaking at the IFIC Foundation Global Communications Summit on September 19.)
It was very important for 250 key civil society stakeholders with a variety of viewpoints and areas of expertise to come together and provide input because civil society can play important roles as we address the problem of NCDs. We hope that the comments will inform world leaders as they create an “outcomes document” to be issued in September at the conclusion of the High-level Meeting.
For example, simple, science-based, behavior-focused communication messages on nutrition and health are an effective and affordable way to help citizens from around the globe reduce risk factors associated with NCDs. This cost-effective approach can be easily tailored for different audiences based on location and need, and, therefore, should be a simple, yet important, intervention that every country could consider.
You can make a difference! In case you want to help us combat this global heath issue, please join us at our just-announced IFIC Foundation Foundation’s Global Diet and Physical Activity Communications Summit: “Insights to Motivate Healthful, Active Lifestyles” on September 19 in New York City. It will be held at the same time as the UN High-level Meeting. An early bird rate is available through August 26.
Registration and Information: http://www.foodinsight.org/Global-Summit.aspx.
The Global Communications Summit includes an amazing global roster of speakers, including Nancy Snyderman, Chief Medical Editor, NBC News; Elisabeth Hagen, Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA; and Despina Spanou, Principal Adviser, Directorate-General for Health and Consumers, European Commission. Key sessions will provide expert insights and best-practices for the use of science-based, behavior-focused communications in order to motivate individuals and families to achieve healthful, active lifestyles, with the goal of helping to reduce the incidence of NCDs.
The Summit also will be an invaluable opportunity for you to learn about communication tools and best practices while interacting with global stakeholders – from governments; communication, health, and fitness professions; civil society; nonprofits; academia; and the private sector – who are focused on science-based communications that can help promote healthful, active lifestyles.
We hope to see you in New York!