Capitalizing on the Demographic Transition : Tackling Noncommunicable Diseases in South Asia

Abstract

This book looks primarily at Cardio
 Vascular Disease (CVD) and tobacco use because they account
 for a disproportionate amount of the Non Communicable
 Disease (NCD) burden the focus is strategic rather than
 comprehensive. It considers both country and regional level
 approaches for tackling NCDs, as many of the issues and
 challenges of mounting an effective response are common to
 most South Asian countries. The prevention and control of
 NCDs constitute a development issue that low-income
 countries in South Asia are already facing. Both country and
 regional-level strategies are important because many of the
 issues and challenges of mounting an effective response to
 NCDs are common to most South Asian countries, even though
 their disease burden profiles vary. Hence, the rationale for
 this book is that strategic decisions for prevention and
 treatment of NCDs can effectively address the future burden
 of disease, promote healthy aging, and increase the
 potential benefit from the demographic transition, thus
 contributing to economic development. This book's goal
 is to encourage countries to develop, adopt, and implement
 effective and timely country and regional responses that
 reduce the population-level risk factors and NCD disease burden.