A new global goal-to reduce the projected death rates from chronic diseases by 2 per cent per year until 2015-would prevent some 36 million people from dying in the next ten years, 25 million of them in Asia and the Pacific region, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in a report titled Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment.

The report states that chronic diseases, such as heart and respiratory diseases, stroke, cancer and diabetes, are by far the leading cause of death worldwide and their impact is steadily growing. It is projected that some 338 million will die of chronic diseases in the next ten years. New analysis focusing on member countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) shows that in 2005 alone chronic diseases accounted for an estimated 67 per cent of all deaths in that region-a figure that is projected to rise to 72 per cent by 2015.

"This occasion marks another step in the ongoing collaboration between WHO and UNESCAP", said Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of the Commission, at the launching of the report on 14 February 2006. "We are committed to working with WHO and other partners in helping our member Governments evolve coherent policies to tackle the social and economic determinants of disease", he added. "This growing epidemic has substantial macro-economic impact on the economies of the region. Countries in the region, such as China, India and the Russian Federation, could forego billions of dollars in national income over the next ten years as a result of chronic diseases, in addition to losing their human resources", Mr. Kim said.

"It is clear that the weight of the burden of chronic disease is in the UNESCAP region. And it is also clear that with increased investment in chronic disease prevention, this is the region which can make the biggest difference and save the most lives. The fight against chronic disease must begin here and it must begin now", according to Dr. Catherine Le Galès-Camus, WHO Assistant Director-General for Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health.

Three major causes or risk factors responsible for chronic diseases are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use. Globally, these risks are increasing as people's diet change to the kinds of food high in fat and sugar, and because their work and living situations are much less physically active. About 1 billion people worldwide are overweight or obese, and WHO predicts that without immediate action this figure will rise to more than 1.5 billion by 2015.

Many countries in the UNESCAP region have already begun to take action to address these risk factors and reverse the current trend. Indonesia, the Philippines, Tonga and Viet Nam have followed a WHO-recommended stepwise planning framework-an approach to chronic disease prevention that is flexible enough to be successfully applied in any country. China has implemented a national cancer prevention and control plan and is in the process of finalizing a similar plan for chronic diseases. India has also shown progress in the fight against chronic diseases through a national cancer-control programme and the enactment of strict tobacco control laws. But in order to reach the goal of saving 36 million lives by 2015, much more needs to be done, and it will have to involve all sectors of government, private industry, civil society and communities.