KARACHI: The United Nations health agency has announced the establishment of a high-level global commission on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) which will be led by Dr Sania Nishtar of Pakistan.

The commission will seek to identify new ways to curb the world’s biggest causes of death and extend life expectancy for millions of people, Dawn.com reported on Thursday.

World Health Organisation (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement that a new approach and action were needed to prevent people from dying from NCDs.

“I am committed to engaging the very best people in the world to address our health challenges,” he said, adding that he was pleased that Dr Nishtar had agreed to lead the commission. “I know she will bring impressive knowledge, credibility and commitment to this effort,” said Mr Ghebreyesus.

Dr Nishtar has worked on noncommunicable diseases for years and once served as a government minister where she dealt with health, science and information technology. She has also previously served as co-chair of the WHO commission on ending childhood obesity.

The commission will direct its efforts towards NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes and respiratory disease as wells as suffering from mental health issues and impacts of violence and injuries.

NCDs kill about 40 million people each year around the world, accounting for 70 per cent of all deaths, according to the WHO statement.

Low and middle-income countries account for more than 80pc of all deaths from NCDs.

According to WHO, world leaders had in 2015 committed to reduce premature deaths from the diseases by one third by 2030 as part of the Sustain­able Development Goals. However, recent WHO reports indicated that the world would struggle to meet the target.

Government representatives and health leaders will review progress on the target at the WHO global conference on NCDs, which will be held in Uruguay later this month.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2017