October 25, 2006 – As many as 60% of all deaths worldwide in 2005 are attributable to preventable chronic diseases. How? ‘Or’ What? By tackling the three main risk factors: unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and smoking.
This is what the DD Catherine Le Galès – Camus1 of the World Health Organization (WHO) within the framework of the 10es Annual public health days2. She presented the French version of the report Chronic disease prevention: a vital investment3.
According to her, chronic diseases represent a real global epidemic that must be stopped. “They can and must be brought under control. We have enough scientific knowledge for this to be possible, ”she said.
Chronic diseases affect all countries as well as people of all ages, including children. Poor people are said to be the most vulnerable to these health problems.
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“Food is not at the service of health: this is a global phenomenon that must be reversed. “ DD Catherine Le Galès-Camus, WHO |
Globally, no less than 35 million people – almost the equivalent of the population of Canada! – suffering from a chronic illness, such as cardiovascular disorders, cancer, diabetes and others, died prematurely last year. “This is twice as much as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and perinatal infections as well as nutritional deficiencies combined,” D noted.D The Galès-Camus.
Also, the WHO wants to reduce, within ten years, by 2% the death rate in the world by encouraging governments to commit to promoting healthy lifestyles. This would prevent 3.6 million premature deaths per year.
Canada in bad shape
In Canada, nearly nine out of ten deaths in 2005 were attributable to chronic diseases: one third was related to heart conditions and 29% to cancer. In Quebec, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, respiratory diseases and diabetes are responsible for three quarters of deaths.
“In ten years, in Canada, two million people will die of a chronic disease if left unchecked, which is 15% more than today,” said Dr.D WHO’s Galès-Camus.
WHO predicts that three in four men and two in three women in Canada will be overweight by 2015.
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“This report highlights the urgency of concerted action at the national level. “ Sylvie Stachenko, Public Health Agency of Canada |
The good news, according to Catherine Le Galès-Camus, is that we can act: no less than 50% of heart disease and 40% of cancers can be avoided “by acting in a comprehensive, integrated and realistic way”. Concrete examples? Reduce the salt content of processed foods, improve the quality of meals served in school cafeterias, increase taxes on tobacco products.
“These are achievable objectives which will depend on the political will of countries to commit to including not only health systems in the fight, but also industry: this is the major stake”, he added. she concludes.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. The DD Catherine Le Galès – Camus is Assistant Director General of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at the World Health Organization (WHO).
2. For more details, consult the website of the Annual Public Health Days: www.inspq.qc.ca/jasp [consulté le 25 octobre 2006].
3. This report is available (in English only, when going online) at www.who.int/chp/chronic_disease_report/en [consulté le 25 octobre 2006].
