The Brazzaville Declaration on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), named for the capital of the Republic of Congo, where the document was adopted on Wednesday at the African Regional Ministerial Consultation, under the auspices of the UN World Health Organization (WHO), highlights commitments against the growing problem of NCDs in Africa.

Actions include strengthening and standardizing national health systems to generate disaggregated data on NCDs; using appropriate means, including information and communication technologies to promote health awareness and NCDs prevention and control strategies.

The ministers also committed to take action to protect people from: unhealthy diets, harmful use of alcohol and tobacco, exposure to tobacco smoke and unsafe food; violence and injuries, and the advertising of unhealthy products.

They pledged to strengthen health systems with appropriate attention to financing; training and retaining the health workforce; procurement and distribution of medicines, vaccines, medical supplies and equipment; improving infrastructure; and, evidence-based service delivery.

In the declaration, the ministers also urged WHO, partners and civil society organizations to provide technical support to Member States for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating recommendations contained in the document

The declaration specifically requested heads of State and government in the region to endorse the declaration, and present it to the upcoming General Assembly High-Level Summit on NCDs in September as the African position.