UN adopts Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health

MONICA KAYOMBO,Zambia, Lusaka
THE Non-Communicable Disease Alliance (NCDA) has welcomed the United Nations (UN) adoption of the Political Declaration on NCDs and health describing the development as a significant milestone for the global NCD agenda.
The NCDA notes that the adoption is significant particularly with the introduction of new, action oriented targets designed to accelerate progress on prevention, care and investment,
NCDA Policy and Advocacy Director Alison Cox says: “Today’s adoption sends a clear signal that countries are ready to scale up action on NCDs and mental health. Implementation must now be swift, sustained and matched with the necessary resources”.
In a statement released from Geneva Switzerland by Media Relations specialist Michael Kessler, the NCDA says given the urgent need for action on NCDs, it regrets that the procedural objections of a small number of member States have delayed the adoption of the Declaration.
Ms Cox has added that what matters now is moving from commitment to action, ensuring momentum is not lost.
“We urge champions across the system to continue driving implementation, upholding UN commitments, and sustaining the momentum needed to deliver real improvements for people living with NCDs and mental health conditions worldwide,’’ she said.
The UN Declaration aims to address the global burden of NCDs and promote mental well-being through integrated health strategies.
The political declaration is titled “Equity and Integration: Transforming Lives and Livelihoods through Leadership and Action on NCDs and the promotion of Mental Health and well-being.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Zambia has a high burden of communicable and NCDs, with the latter making up 35 percent of deaths in 2021.
NCDs are a significant health problem in Zambia. The age-standardized mortality rate across four major NCDs ranging from Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Respiratory Disease, Cancer and Diabetes was 938 per 100,000 in males and 599 in females in 2021.
Zambia has implemented initial efforts on the NCD progress indicators related to NCD policy and plan, NCD guidelines, tobacco taxes, tobacco smoke free/ pollution and alcohol availability, however progress has been more limited on, tobacco health warnings, tobacco advertising bans, alcohol taxes, alcohol advertising restrictions, trans fats policies, marketing to children and physical activity guidelines.
Leaders from across the world at the Eightieth United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the political declaration to combat NCDs and mental health challenges through a fully integrated approach. This is the outcome of the intergovernmental negotiations in advance of and considered by the fourth high-level meeting of the UNGA on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and well-being, held on 25 September 2025.