Low-cost prevention plan

Monday September 19th, 2011

Growing rates of diseases such as cancer, heart disease and lung cancer could be prevented by spending less than a pound a year per person, according to a major report.

Small amounts of spending could be used in low income countries to make a big difference, according to the World Health Organisation report published yesterday.

It suggests poor countries spend as little as one US dollar per person annually to tackle these disease.

The proposals include taxes on tobacco and alcohol and smoke-free workplaces. There could also be campaigns to cut the amount of salt in food and to use healthy fats.

Public awareness campaigns on diet and physical fitness could also be run at low cost, WHO says.

Dr Ala Alwan, of WHO, said: "Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, killing ever more people each year. Nearly 80 per cent of these deaths occur in low and middle income countries.

"The challenge to these countries is tremendous, but this study proves that there are affordable steps all governments can take to address non-communicable diseases."

Tags: Cancer | Diabetes | Heart Health | World Health

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