PMNCH advocates for integrated NCD care to protect the health and well-being of vulnerable women, children and adolescents

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and mental health conditions are a silent threat to already vulnerable women, children, and adolescents. In response to this growing challenge, leaders convened in New York for the Fourth UN High-level Meeting on NCDs (HLM4) to discuss the United Nations global political declaration on NCDs and mental health, calling for a new, ambitious vision for NCD prevention and control, and the promotion of mental health and well-being. 

From Integration to Impact 

PMNCH along with UNFPA, World Diabetes Foundation, Jhpiego, Maternity Foundation, WHO/HRP and NCD Alliance, co-hosted a high-level side event on the sidelines of the High-level Meeting, where global health leaders addressed the critical intersection of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) and non-communicable diseases. The event, Uniting efforts on non-communicable diseases and maternal health: From Integration to Impact, highlighted that while significant progress has been made in reducing preventable maternal and child deaths, NCDs have emerged as a leading cause of death and disability, particularly among women of reproductive age.  

Experts and country representatives presented evidence and real-world case studies from low- and middle-income countries, demonstrating the feasibility and impact of integrating NCD prevention, screening, and management into existing MNCH services. The discussion underscored that in a world of limited resources, this people-centered approach is not only more efficient but is crucial for achieving greater synergies towards comprehensive, continuous care from pregnancy through the lifespan. 

“We have demonstrated the feasibility and potential of bringing NCD and maternal health agendas together,” said Rajat Khosla, Executive Director, PMNCH during the event. “We can build strong, unified momentum toward comprehensive primary health care that ensures prevention and management across the life course. Together, we can turn today’s vision of integrated, resilient health systems into tomorrow’s reality.” 

The event also marked the launch of the policy brief, Integration across the life course: Bridging noncommunicable diseases and sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (SRMNCAH), co-authored by PMNCH and key partners. The brief argues that integrating the prevention and management of NCDs into existing SRMNCAH services is essential to improving health outcomes across the life course. It highlights integrated service as a cost-effective and equitable solution that addresses the growing threat of NCDs during pregnancy and across generations, urging global action and financing.

The revised NCD Agenda 

The Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on NCDs highlights several key commitments specifically targeting the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents. The Declaration addresses the urgent need to combat all forms of malnutrition, including undernourishment and childhood obesity. It notes specific aims to reduce obesity in children under five, a group where 35 million are currently affected, and to protect children from the harmful impact of food marketing. 

The Declaration commits to supporting programs that address undernutrition in mothers, particularly during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and highlights the long-term health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child, such as reducing the risk of developing obesity and NCDs later in life. 

The declaration also issues a strong and urgent call to promote universal access to quality education and supportive environments from childhood through adulthood, while addressing the social exclusion of people living with NCDs, including young people. 

The NCD agenda is essential to reducing the underlying conditions linked to high-risk pregnancies, and it also includes the right to access preventive screenings, including for cervical and breast cancer.

Upholding SRHR to combat NCDs 

Yet, The Declaration does not explicitly highlight the urgent need to focus on reproductive rights and justice as a crucial component of addressing the burden of NCDs. A rights-based approach to integrated care is critical to addressing gender equity, ensuring that women, adolescent girls, and marginalized groups can exercise their comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). 

By enabling individuals to control their reproductive health and access vital preventive and primary care, reproductive rights help interrupt cycles of poor health, leading to better overall management and prevention of NCDs. 

The Political Declaration, negotiated during a five-month intergovernmental process, will be considered for final approval in October 2025.