Julie Lyn Hall, representative of the World
Health Organization (WHO) in the Philippines,
said in an opening message. “Today, NCDs
remain the No. 1 killer in the world, and are
responsible for 63 percent of all deaths globally!
“Contrary to popular belief that NCDs are only
the concerns of the rich and the old, about 80
percent of these NCD deaths are happening in
low- and middle-income countries,â€Prevention
remains the cornerstone of NCD work, Hall said.
Cost-effective measures include the
implementation of the WHO Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control, reducing salt
intake of the population, replacing trans-fat with
polyunsaturated fat, and promoting public
awareness about diet and physical activity.
The average salt consumption among Filipinos is
high at about 10 grams per capita per day
compared to the WHO recommendation of 5 g.
Hall noted that prevention of NCDs is not only
about personal choices but also about the
enabling environment we live in.
