Pacific Non-communicable Diseases Summit

Pacific Non-communicable Diseases Summit
Theme: Translating Global and Regional Commitments into Local Action
20-22 June 2016
Nuku’alofa, Tonga

Pacific Islands’ leaders and ministers, and officials from regional and global development agencies, will gather in the Kingdom of Tonga from 20-22 June to consider urgent action to address the region’s non-communicable diseases (NCD) crisis.

The first ever Pacific NCD Summit is a collaboration between the Government of Tonga and the Pacific Community (SPC), supported by the Australian Government, the New Zealand Aid Programme, World Bank, World Diabetes Foundation, World Health Organization and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

NCD crisis in the Pacific Islands region
NCDs – primarily heart disease, cancers, lung disease and diabetes – are the leading cause of death in the Pacific, with life expectancy declining in some Pacific Island countries as a result of NCD-related premature deaths.

In addition, there is a significant socio-economic burden placed on many Pacific Island countries and territories that are unable to provide essential medicines and services for preventing and caring for people with NCDs.

 Some 140 participants are expected. Among its objectives, the Pacific NCD Summit will review how Pacific Island countries and territories are implementing their NCD activities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Samoa Pathway.

The participants will also:

•review progress with the Pacific NCD Roadmap in an effort to accelerate implementation

•seek to strengthen current funding arrangements, and

•explore new sources of funding; and create opportunities for South-South collaboration in implementing good practice to address NCDs.