Noncommunicable Diseases, Rehabilitation and Disability

We are responsible for leading, coordinating and monitoring global action to cover additional people with health services, medicines, vaccines, diagnostic and health technologies for the prevention, screening, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. We aim to advance health equity for persons with disabilities, we have a focus on sensory impairments and bring together the work on rehabilitation from across the departments and from the 3 levels of the organization.

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NCD case studies

NCD case studies

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Stories from the field

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, heart and lung diseases are the world’s biggest killers, accounting for 74% of deaths in 2019. In response, WHO provides technical guidance and support to Member States to improve NCD outcomes, and many feasible, cost-effective and equitable actions exist for countries to better prevent and manage NCDs.

On this page, we share examples of how countries around the world are adopting interventions to prevent and control NCDs for their populations.

Acting on NCDs in primary health care (PHC) and universal health coverage (UHC)

20 October 2021

Trinidad and Tobago: Empowering communities to prevent and self-manage noncommunicable diseases

In Trinidad and Tobago, PAHO/WHO is implementing a chronic disease self-management course, with the support of the Universal Health Coverage Partnership (UHC Partnership).

Addressing NCDs in Solomon Islands

Working with the Ministry of Health and provincial governments to establish a Solomon Islands Package of Essential NCD interventions in primary health care.

Suriname: turning global commitments into political action on noncommunicable diseases

WHO Member States are working to translate decisions taken at the World Health Assembly into actions within their national health systems – here is an example from Suriname.

23 September 2019

UN supporting Uganda to halt the rise of noncommunicable diseases

As in Uganda, WHO works across the UN through the UN Interagency Task Force on NCDs to establish whole-of-Government and whole-of-society responses to NCDs.

8 September 2020

Mongolia: crafting essential country-specific tools to tackle NCDs

Initially piloted in two demonstration sites, WHO is working in Mongolia to scale up a technical package of NCD responses.

7 September 2020

Sri Lanka: using technology to train and mentor staff on the NCD frontline

Telehealth offers an opportunity to train and mentor health professionals in providing evidence-based NCD care, as shown by WHO’s work with the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka.

An elderly service seeker getting her blood pressure checked in Bagmati Province, Nepal

Closing the coverage gap to reverse the NCD threat

Across South-East Asia, WHO works with Member States to scale up NCDs in PHC and UHC, including population-based screening and care pathways.

Strengthening primary health care in the Western Pacific for the future

NCDs are integral to primary health care, as the foundation of a strong health system. WHO works in the Western Pacific to bring access to essential health services to more people.

health worker sitting at desk with patient sitting

Bangladesh: Towards a model district for NCD prevention and management in humanitarian settings in Cox’s Bazar

Addressing NCDs among people living in humanitarian emergencies remains a major challenge globally. In the Rohingya refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, WHO supports health authorities and humanitarian partners to better integrate NCD services into primary health care.

NORAD-WHO project launched in Nepal

WHO is working with NORAD, the development agency of the Norwegian Government, to strengthen the delivery of basic NCD services in five countries, including Nepal.

Improving cancer outcomes

Addressing inequities in breast cancer treatment in sub-Saharan Africa: insights from a breast cancer surgeon in Nairobi

Through the Global Breast Cancer Initiative, WHO is addressing barriers to diagnosis, closing the treatment gap, and taking a multidisciplinary approach to cancer care.

4 February 2022

Mozambique: strengthening efforts to reduce the cancer burden

WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health in Mozambique to develop and cost its National Cancer Control Plan, including designing a health impact analysis and investment case.

Building a future free of cervical cancer in Africa

The cervical cancer burden falls unequally on Africa, home to 19 of the 20 most affected countries globally. Read how WHO’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative is responding.

Portrait image of Dr Bello, First Lady of Nigeria

Spearheading cancer awareness drive in Nigeria

Early detection improves cancer outcomes. WHO spoke with the First Lady of Nigeria on the challenges and success of her awareness drive on breast and cervical cancer.

4 February 2019

Gaza patients’ painful journey to cancer treatment

The protection and fulfilment of the right to health for all persons living in conflict zones is an important component of cancer care.

1 February 2018

Cervical cancer prevention and control saves lives in the Republic of Korea

WHO recommendations are helping health authorities to talk about sexual and reproductive health as part of efforts to protect girls and women from cervical cancer.

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Building capacity for leadership on cancer and other NCDs

Across the Western Pacific, we show why countries with resource constraints and limited expertise can benefit from knowledge and support from fellow Member States and WHO.

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Protecting women in Solomon Islands from cervical cancer

Only about 4% of women in Solomon Islands receive a Pap test, while tests are often sent overseas for analysis. WHO works with partners to increase HPV vaccination uptake.

hands holding a mobile device pointing to the screen

ONCOPEDS: Telemedicine within reach to parents of children with cancer in Perú

An application for improving the early diagnosis of childhood cancer expanded during COVID-19, allowing communication within oncologists, parents and doctors in primary health care.

health worker wearing a mask in the lab

Moving beyond the hospital to raise awareness, diagnose and treat cervical cancer in Paraguay

In Cordillera, community-based approaches have reached two thousand women with health information, consultations, HPV testing, colposcopy, biopsy, and treatment services.

a group of health personnel standing

Suriname: taking a village to save a woman´s life from cervical cancer

With PAHO support, Medical Missions deliver essential health services for cervical cancer screening to women in the remote village of Kwamalasamutu, Suriname.

health worker giving vaccination to a young patient being held by another health worker

Girls in Tarija receive the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer

In Southern Bolivia, PAHO follows vaccination teams from the Palmarcito Health Center who visit urban and rural areas to promote HPV vaccination uptake.

Providing better health care for people living with diabetes

Increased availability of insulin: an injection of hope for Bhutan

The private sector has a role to play in increasing equitable and affordable access to essential health medicines and technologies, as illustrated in Bhutan.

11 November 2020

Vanuatu: caring for people with diabetes

People living with NCDs bring unique insights and perspectives that cannot be found elsewhere. In Vanuatu, we hear from two women living with diabetes.

11 September 2020

Georgia: gathering insights to provide better diabetes care

Conducting research can help explain how people with diabetes are being cared for in primary health settings, to inform better diabetes interventions.

10 September 2020

Honduras: building a national road map for diabetes surveillance

The surveillance, monitoring and reporting of key NCD indicators is vital to help countries identify what actions to take. Here, PAHO/WHO work to strengthen diabetes indicators in ...

Diagnosing, treatment and managing hypertension

Chile: where action on hypertension is saving lives

Thanks to sustained political commitment, WHO’s HEARTS technical package and two decades of policy action, rates of hypertension are falling steadily across Chile.

9 September 2020

Burkina Faso: creating new tools to act on hypertension

In one Burkina Faso district hospital, almost two thirds of outpatient consultations are either for hypertension or diabetes. WHO is working to implement guidance for heart health.

Philippines embraces efforts to step up cardiovascular disease care

Philippines embraces efforts to step up cardiovascular disease care

WHO is helping health providers adopt our HEARTS technical package for cardiovascular disease management in primary health care.

Oral health

A dental assistant is teaching students how to brush teeth in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Vanuatu’s “Healthy Tooth School” programme in Vanuatu teaches children the importance of clean teeth

With oral health a key indicator of overall health, well-being and quality of life, WHO is supporting a programme implemented in 30 kindergarten and primary schools in the archipelago, reaching more than 3000 children.

Supporting people living with NCDs in health emergencies

three people wearing masks posing in a distribution centre

Deploying emergency kits for NCDs following a volcanic eruption in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Following an eruption that displaced 20 000 inhabitants, PAHO has worked with the Ministry of Health and partners to deploy WHO emergency NCD kits and mitigate the disruption of NCD care.

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WHO provides NCD kits to Timor-Leste to prevent risk of comorbidity amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO has provided Timor-Leste with emergency NCD kits to tackle comorbidity and mortality, while strengthening essential health services.

photo of a city landscape with mountains in background

Ensuring continuity of treatment for chronic patients during the pandemic: Telehealth in Costa Rica

PAHO has supported Costa Rica to accelerate its telehealth system for improving integrated epidemiological surveillance, including providing cardiac rehabilitation at home.

Two people wearing masks a third holds a smart phone in hand

Digital innovation stories across the Eastern Mediterranean during COVID-19

Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and United Arab Emirates are delivering innovations in telemedicine, hotlines and online training to boost NCD care.

health worker provides care to patient another heath worker sat at a desk looking on

Afghanistan’s successful deployment of the NCD emergency kit shows the importance of integrating NCD services into primary health care to save lives

Working with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health and partners, WHO has deployed our NCD emergency kit in four primary health care centers in provinces with declared emergencies.

Integrating disability and rehabilitation in health systems

erin brown with prosthetic leg sitting

Fighting for disability rights in the Bahamas

Working with PAHO and the Ministry of Health, Erin Brown is creating space for inclusion within health care services and the workplace.

Multi-disciplinary Mobile Rehabilitation Service in Fiji

Multi-disciplinary mobile rehabilitation service in Fiji

Rehabilitation is an essential component of Universal Health Coverage. In Fiji, WHO is working with the Government to support a rehabilitation hospital and mobile rehabilitation service.

Storytelling for community-based inclusive development - The Pacific Way

Storytelling for community-based inclusive development: the Pacific way

In Fiji, Solomon Islands and Cook Islands, WHO is using storytelling to provide guidance on community-based rehabilitation to support people with disabilities.

Related health topic

Diseases and conditions

Noncommunicable diseases

Related links

Participants in the Executive Board meeting room at WHO, Geneva.

On the road to 2025: The global NCD deadline

Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, Rehabilitation and Disability

Contact email

NCDDepartment@who.int