Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a leading cause of death in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Every year, more than 2.8 million people in the Region die from NCDs
1 in 4 of these deaths is premature, occurring before the age of 70
In the Region, more than 102 million people are in need of health care services
NCDs are a real and growing threat to people’s health and development, amplified by and during emergencies.
NCDs are challenging during and after an emergency because they require ongoing interaction with health systems and providers for optimal management and outcomes.
However, during an emergency, communicable diseases and injury management become the primary focus
The COVID-19 pandemic has also severely disrupted NCD services
There is an urgent need to improve the management of NCDs in emergencies
WHO continues to work with countries to identify priority actions to integrate NCD interventions into national emergency plans and deliver these through a primary health care approach
Let’s reorient and strengthen health systems for better NCD management and care in emergencies