Commonwealth leaders and partners have vowed to tackle noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health.

At a side event during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, officials reaffirmed their commitment to addressing NCDs and mental health challenges across the region.

The event was organised by the Samoan Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative Office in Samoa, and the Commonwealth Secretariat. 

It focused on enhancing political commitment, partnerships, and community involvement to mitigate global health challenges.

Noncommunicable diseases - including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes - are responsible for most deaths worldwide, causing 150 million premature deaths among people aged 30 to 70, predominantly in developing countries.

Participants from sectors such as health, education, finance, agriculture, and media shared strategies to promote healthier lifestyles and strengthen health systems. 

“The Ministry of Health has successfully introduced the ‘Package of Essential NCD Services (PEN) Fa’a Samoa’ into our communities, demonstrating our strong commitment to tackling NCDs and mental health issues,” said Professor Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma, Samoa’s Health Director General.

“The Samoan government is dedicated to fostering these collaborations to ensure sustainable and impactful health outcomes for our people.”

Dr Kim Eva Dickson, WHO Representative for Samoa and nearby territories, called for broad cooperation.

“Tackling NCDs and mental health is not just a job for the health sector. It requires the dedicated involvement of the whole-of-government and whole-of-society,” she said. 

NCDs are also a serious issue for people under 30, who represent 60 per cent of the Commonwealth's population. 

At the 2022 CHOGM in Rwanda, a youth-led NCD Guiding Framework was introduced to target root causes and promote healthier lifestyles among young people.

Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, KC, reiterated the collective commitment.

“In Rwanda, we committed to take bold multisectoral action to reduce the incidence of NCDs,” she said. 

“This year here in Samoa, the Commonwealth remains committed to strengthening partnerships that support health equity and sustainable development.”

The event also featured the presentation of ‘Ageing Well in the Commonwealth: A Roadmap for Healthy Ageing’, authored by Professor Dame Carol Black, which emphasised the need for strategies that allow individuals to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives.