Petition targets noncommunicable diseases in “Women for a Healthy Future” campaign
AUGUST 2011 - Arogya World (www.arogyaworld.org) is mobilizing women from around the world to ignite action against noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The United Nations will convene a high-level meeting on NCD prevention and control that will take place on 19-20 September 2011. Girls and women are at a disadvantage for getting NCDs. Women Deliver joins other PMNCH partners to promote women's health during this event and to explore the links between NCDs and maternal health. Non-communicable diseases, commonly known as chronic diseases, cause two out of three deaths worldwide, and are the leading cause of death for women around the world.
NCDs threaten women's lives and our children's future. Some 80% of cardiovascular disease and diabetes and 40% of cancers can be prevented by avoiding tobacco, increasing physical activity and eating healthy foods. It's going to take strong commitments from the world's leaders and sweeping policy changes to reduce women's and children's vulnerability to NCDs.
Organizations representing global health, women's health, child rights, and youth perspectives have come together to form the Women for a Healthy Future movement. This movement is aligned with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon's "Every Woman, Every Child" initiative and is mobilizing women from around the world to demand action against NCDs.
The goals is to gather 10,000 women's signatures, take them to the media, to world leaders gathered at the UN, and to business leaders.