News outlets discuss the WHO’s Global status report on non-communicable diseases 2014, released on Monday.

Agence France-Presse: ‘Lifestyle’ diseases kill 16 mn prematurely
“Diseases linked to lifestyle choices, including diabetes and some cancers, kill 16 million people prematurely each year, the World Health Organization said Monday, urging action to stop the ‘slow-moving public health disaster’…” (Larson, 1/19).

Deutsche Welle: WHO says bad lifestyle choices continue to kill millions annually
“A report released by the World Health Organization on Monday said that unhealthy habits such as smoking, alcohol abuse, as well as consuming too much salt, sugar, and fat were leading to sicknesses that killed around 16 million people each year — up from 14.6 million in 2000. Another major factor was a lack of physical activity…” (1/19).

Devex: ‘Best buy’ interventions for NCDs
Devex presents “five things the international development community can learn — and ponder on — about combating NCDs, based on some of the ‘best buys’ or initiatives WHO presented in a new report that aims to inform stakeholders on the global progress on NCD prevention and control…” (Ravelo, 1/19).

Reuters: WHO says chronic diseases kill 3 million annually in China
“…The organization said prevalence of many key risk factors in China is ‘worryingly high.’ It said that over half of all men in the country are smokers, more than four in five adolescents do not engage in sufficient physical activity, and around one in five adults have raised blood pressure…” (Wee, 1/19).

U.N. News Centre: U.N. health agency urges greater government action against non-communicable diseases
“…Speaking at the launch of the WHO’s Global status report on non-communicable diseases 2014, the agency’s Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan, announced that by investing anywhere from $1 to $3 per person per year, countries could dramatically reduce illness and death from NCDs…” (1/19).

VOA News: WHO: Millions Die Prematurely From Non-Communicable Diseases
“…In 2013, the World Health Assembly approved a ‘global action plan’ that aims to reduce the number of premature deaths from non-communicable diseases by one quarter by 2025. The plan includes nine voluntary global targets to tackle key risk factors. … WHO finds most countries are not on track to meet the 2025 goal…” (Schlein, 1/19).