SNI takes a dual-track approach, promoting accelerated progress towards the NCD-related SDGs for 2030 (Race to the finish), while championing the key generational shifts required to achieve a sustainably healthier, NCD-resilient WHO European Region (Vision 2050).

The 100-week challenge represents the collective, concerted effort of WHO/Europe’s Member States to get on track by 2025, when the UN General Assembly High-level Meeting on NCDs takes place.

Vision

A Region free of preventable NCDs

NCDs are the most common cause of death and disability across the Region, accounting for 90% or 9 million deaths each year and 85% of disability-adjusted life years.

Race to the finish, 2030

The time to implement the NCD-related SDGs is shortening and there are a few urgent priorities that grow more prominent with each passing year. To accelerate action toward achieving the SDG targets, SNI is defining a package of evidence-based quick buys – interventions that countries can implement that can make an impact within 2–7 years.

The core areas of work under Race to the finish are alcohol, tobacco, nutrition, physical activity, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and data for impact. Key areas include:

• tobacco control measures
• alcohol taxation
• salt reduction
• eliminating trans fats
• cervical cancer screening
• controlling high blood pressure

Vision 2050

As efforts to attain the SDGs ramp up, it is also important to simultaneously progress work on long buys – actions to enable more fundamental, long-term, generational shifts that will make Europe more resilient to NCDs in the face of commercial influences, emergencies and disasters. This means achieving generational shifts for better health and health care through:

• addressing the commercial determinants of NCDs and inequity
• integrating action on NCDs in emergencies and the climate crisis
• engaging youth to build a safe and just space for an NCD-resilient new generation
• institutionalizing engagement with civil society organizations
• harnessing innovation for public health and the common good.

Our work is guided by the WHO European Programme of Work, which prioritizes reaching SDG targets in the WHO European Region while also taking into account targets on NCDs in Europe (targets of the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases in the WHO European Region, the United Nations High-level targets for 2025 and the NCD-related targets for 2030).