Global Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

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Worldwide, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) kill over 35 million people each year, representing nearly two-thirds of the world’s deaths. More than 80 percent of NCD-related deaths are in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems are often not equipped to respond, and nearly a third of those deaths occur before age 60. The enormous social and economic toll of NCDs worldwide calls for an integrated strategic approach to reduce illnesses and deaths due to NCDs globally. NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease kill more people globally than infectious diseases. Several NCDs share the common risk factors of tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol, as well as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Surveys, surveillance, and monitoring for non-communicable disease (NCDs) are crucial to provide countries with needed information to develop prevention strategies, programs, and policies; to assess the progress and impact of these efforts; to determine fiscally responsible use of resources; and to identify effective interventions for global dissemination and learning. The capacity to implement NCD surveillance varies greatly around the world and often is inadequate in low and middle income countries (LMICs). The purpose of this NOFO is to promote health, provide expertise and training to regions and countries across the globe to prevent and control non-communicable diseases, their risk factors, and related causes through effective regional, national and community health programs in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

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