Non-communicable diseases – including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes – claim more than 35 million lives each year and account for approximately 60% of all deaths worldwide.   Despite this great burden, non-communicable diseases are largely overlooked and underfunded.   Preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases should be a global health priority.

The American Cancer Society is supporting a campaign sponsored by the International Union Against Cancer, the International Diabetes Federation and the World Heart Federation to address the burden of non-communicable diseases. In the next few weeks, a resolution will be introduced at the United Nations calling for a Special Session on Non-Communicable Diseases (UNGASS). An UNGASS on non-communicable diseases would raise the profile of these diseases on the global stage, mobilize the international community to take action, and secure the commitment of Heads of State to lead the cross-government effort necessary to reverse the epidemic. The HIV/AIDS UNGASS held in 2001 resulted in a Heads of State Declaration of Commitment that paved the way for the urgent international response that followed and helped stabilize the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

You can help by calling on your government to support this resolution.   For your convenience, please find below a link as well as  a copy of the letter template that can be adapted for use with your ministers and United Nations representatives. To have an influence on the upcoming vote, it is important that your letter be sent in the next week.

In addition to the letter template, we have attached several background materials for your reference, including a briefing document, a letter drafted by the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and a link to current representatives to the United Nations.  

We ask you to join with us to take action on this important matter.

Thank you for your support.

Enclosed documents:

• Letter Template
• Background Information on NCDs & UNGASS
• Joint Statement by ACS, AHA and ADA
• List of United Nations Representatives

 Sincerely,

Nathan Grey, MPH

National Vice President for Global Health
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