WHAT: Stakeholders’ dialogue to address risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the WHO African Region. The theme of the meeting is: “Today’s risk factors are tomorrow's diseases.” 

WHEN: 08:00 am – 10:00 am, Monday 18 March, 2013 

WHERE: Birchwood Hotel, Viewpoint Road, Bartlett, Boksburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

WHO: WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, and the Minister of Health of South Africa, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, will be joined by about 200 participants including: public health experts on NCDs and risks factors (researchers and practitioners), senior officials representing relevant government ministries, the private sector, consumer organizations, the food industry, regional intergovernmental organisations and partners. Dr Motsoaledi will deliver an opening address on the 18th.

WHY: The WHO African Region faces a rapidly increasing burden of NCDs alongside a continuing threat of communicable diseases. The major risk factors at the centre of this multistakeholder dialogue are tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity.  Violence and injuries are also being discussed because of how the first four risk factors contribute to them. The main NCDs include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and the consequences of violence and unintentional injuries particularly road traffic injuries. WHO is organizing this ‘dialogue’ in order to catalyze, recognize, and scale up collaborative action to promote health and prevent and control NCDs at regional and country level.

The general objective of the forum is to provide a platform for a multi-stakeholder dialogue to address the risk factors for NCDs in the WHO African Region including sharing information about trends of NCD risk factors and burden of disease in the WHO African Region. Its specific objectives are to identify challenges and opportunities for governments and relevant stakeholders in addressing the risk factors for NCDs in the African Region, reach consensus on priority actions and the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders, and propose mechanisms for facilitating national dialogue and promoting public awareness about the risk factors for NCDs.

Note to Editors
The opening session of this unique forum will provide an opportunity for journalists to hear the Regional Director’s speech and the official opening statement by the Minister of Health of South Africa. 

For more information, please contact:

Joe Maila, Ministry of Health: Spokesperson
Tel: 082 887 3581; Email: mailaj [at] health.gov.za or Twitter @mjmaila

Dr Davison Munodawafa, Determinants and Risk Factors for Health 
Tel: 00 47 242 39476, email: munodawafad [at] afro.who.int

Collins Boakye-Agyemang, WHO Spokesperson 
Tel: 00 472 413 9420, email: Boakyec [at] afro.who.int