A presentation prepared for a UNDP webinar on "Addressing the Social Determinants of Noncommunicable Diseases". This presentation highlights the NCD crisis in the Pacific, discusses the determinants of NCDs in the Pacific (with an emphasis on trade), and discusses action and future work

1. Webinar – NCDs & social
determinants
UNDP Pacific Centre
Suva - Fiji
Ferdinand Strobel

2. Presentation outline
1. Pacific NCD crisis
2. Determinants (emphasis on
trade)
3. Actions & Future plans

3. 1. Pacific NCD crisis
Age standardized diabetes prevalence by WHO regions
Photo Credits: Waqanivalu & UN

4. Rapid epidemiological transition

5. 2. Determinants
Photo Credits: Burton (left); Tim McKenna (right)

6. Photo Credits: Waqanivalu , catholic.org,
healingtalks.com

7. Photo Credits: Strobel and UNDP

8. Photo credit: Vlad Sokhin

9. Graphs: Thow et al. 2011
Effects of trade liberalization:
Opening of
domestic
markets to
int. food
trade
Entry of
transnational
food
corporations,
aggressive
marketing
Dramatic
increase in the
availability &
demand for
ultra-processed
foods & drinks
Profound &
rapid change
of diets
composition
and food
habits :
“snacks” –
“treats”

10. Photo Credits: Strobel, Hoejskovp, commons.wikimedia.org

11. Photo Credits: Strobel, Melissa Goldman, flickr, matava.com

12. Diabetes
prevalence
20%
Imports
value
1%
Year

13. 3. Actions

14. Work on Health & Trade intersections
(2013 – 9 countries)
•
Establish/ strengthen intersectoral
coordination mechanisms;
•
Practice joint planning and share
experience
•
Include among others, health impact
assessments, and taxation policies which
affect the risk factors for NCDs;
•
Provide the technical support required to
support policy coherence between trade
and health sectors;
•
To accelerate the regional and national
efforts to develop and implement food
standards for relevant nutrients (e.g. fat,
sugar and salt content in processed
foods)

15. Some initial results
• Greater recognition of the need for coherence
between health & trade policies by leaders
• Country action (i.e Tonga)
• Economic ministers wanting a roadmap
• Recognition of the need for ‘major
interventions outside the health sector’ by
forum leaders

16. Other planned area of work
• Help develop an ‘economic and social case’
• Mainstream NCDs in National Development
Strategies
• Develop innovative delivery platforms (Public-private
partnerships ?)
• Support the implementation of FCTC (art. 5) –
• Develop practical tools
• Support to CSOs (NCD constituencies & consumer
rights protection, etc…)