Moving From Political Declaration to Action on Reducing the Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases

September 18, 2013, marks 2 years since the monumental meeting of Heads of State at the United Nations in New York to take action against noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which includes cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus, and chronic respiratory disease. Recognizing that the rising human and financial costs of NCDs required a profound shift in the way countries viewed development, United Nations member states gathered for the second time in history to address a health concern (the first being the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS in 2001). Supporting the United Nations Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of NCDs, countries acknowledged NCDs as a development issue and made a commitment to address this global crisis by taking action on the major modifiable risk factors— including tobacco use, raised blood pressure, poor nutrition, physical inactivity—triggering the new pandemic of NCDs, as well as the social, economic, and political determinants that shape these lifestyle choices.1 Although the declaration was a political commitment, it was an important first step, bringing together health and development leaders from across the globe to ensure that progress would be made to reduce the burden of NCDs. The past 2 years have witnessed concrete commitments, meaning that our work is only just beginning. The World Heart Federation and its members spearheaded global advocacy, with other colleagues in the NCD community, calling on the World Health Organization and member states to commit to tangible and achievable goals.2 In 2012, a global target was adopted to reduce premature NCD mortality 25% by 2025—“25by25.”3 Now in 2013, this target, as well as 8 additional targets addressing modifiable risk factors and committing to the use of essential medicines, technologies, and drug therapies to prevent …