Chronic diseases and health promotion

Country information: topic specific

Country specific information currently available on chronic diseases and health promotion is displayed here. Most of the information on these section comes from the various databases available in WHO. To search a database please select your topic of interest from the list below.

WHO Global InfoBase

The WHO Global InfoBase is a repository of chronic disease (noncommunicable) and risk factor data for WHO's Member Countries. It provides up to date, reliable information on the chronic diseases, their risk factors and the effect of these risk factors on the health of populations globally. The InfoBase is unique because of our focus on making comprehensive source and survey information totally transparent to all consumers.

ELSI Genetics Regulation Database

The field of genetics has already generated important technologies and approaches for the benefit of public health. Genetic research and its applications need to be managed through frameworks that safeguard human dignity, safety, states’ interests, and health for all. The ELSI Genetics Regulation Database (ELSI ReD) has been developed in order to provide an easy-to-use resource for locating documents relating to the regulation of various aspects of genetics – documents from all around the world and all levels of regulation, from international to local.

Global Applications of Genomics in Health Care

This is a selection of international medical research successfully demonstrating the potential for genetic science and technology in healthcare innovation. These illustrations are drawn from countries around the world and present achievements in diverse areas including the creation of new drugs, better health policies and new research methodology.

Global Database of Eye Health Care

"VISION 2020 - The Right to Sight Initiative" is a global partnership between WHO and the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) aiming to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020. The Global Database of Eye Health Care is a pilot database in which information relevant to the goals of VISION 2020 can be compiled and shared. At present, we have 86 country profiles available with specific VISION 2020 eye-care related information.

International Database on Craniofacial Anomalies (IDCFA)

The International Database on Craniofacial Anomalies (IDCFA) is a centralized, comprehensive source of information on individual cases of craniofacial anomalies gathered regularly from a global network of partnering birth defect registries and clinical databases developed to meet the global needs for data identified today.

Oral Health Surveillance Data

The oral health database provides for the outcome evaluation of national and community oral health promotion and disease prevention programmes. The data stimulate oral health care providers in countries and health authorities to implement preventive oral care programmes by sharing experiences and ensuring data for adjustment of ongoing programmes. Oral health status of target population groups is monitored worldwide and linked with selected chronic diseases and common risk factors.

World map on dental caries

WHO developed oral disease surveillance systems several years ago, particularly in relation to dental caries in children. Over a number of years an increasing number of epidemiological studies documented a pattern of change in caries prevalence, i.e. increasing levels of caries in certain developing countries and a decline in caries in many industrialized countries. The map below presents the current global maps on dental caries levels among children aged 12 and adults aged 35-44 years.

Chronic disease publications

Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2011

Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010

2008-2013 Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases

Cover of NCD action plan 2008-2013, WHO.
More publications

Contact us

Chronic diseases and health promotion
World Health Organization
Avenue Appia 20
CH-1211 Geneva
Switzerland
chronicdiseases@who.int