Around the world, about 35 million people die from of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and other chronic diseases. NCDs were responsible for 60% of all deaths in 2008, with 80% of the death soccurring in low and middle middle income countries.

According to the Moscow Ministerial Declaration, this number will continue to rise until reaching 75% in 2030.

Understanding the threat from NCDs, the United Nations led by the Carribean Community (CARICOM) voted on a resolution to hold a High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases in September 2011.This was only the second time the United Nations brought a health issue to a High-level Meeting of the General Assembly, as health issues are traditionally dealt with by the UN agency for health – the World Health Organization (WHO). However, when an issue is deemed to be a social and development issue and there is enough political commitment, it can be brought to the UN GA. It is thus particularly important that NCDs are framed as a development issue.Having understood the burden of NCDs, the 66th UN General Assembly held a High-level Meeting on NCDs. If this is still not enough evidence to show you how much NCDs influence the world, take a look at the World Economic Forum’s report from 2010, which states that chronic diseases are one of the three greatest risks to the global economy. Cancer takes the greatest global financial toll of any disease.

What is often misleading from the framing of NCDs is that NCDs are often thought of as diseases for the old , and have nothing to do with younger people. It is true that the burden of NCDs increases along with the aging of the population. However, NCDs are now a problem for younger people, as well. Twenty years ago, global south countries like Indonesia only faced the challenge of eliminating communicable diseases. But, as the result of succesful contraception programs and an increased life expectancy, the burden of NCDs began to increase alarmingly,and not only in Indonesia, but in almost all global south countries with similar population conditions. Most existing NCD global strategies only include addressing the diseases in the elderly. Young people as the dynamic agents of NCDs have somehow been left from the plans.

Shared risk factors from the four major NCDs are often adopted at a very young age. Tobacco use, high saturated fat diets, the harmful use of alcohol, and also physical inactivity are the part of the modern youth’s lifestyle. The starting age of smoking is only getting younger.There was even Aldi Rizal, a very popular smoking baby from Indonesia who is only 4 years old. The rest of the risk factors- physical inactivity, high saturated fat diet, and the harmful use of alcohol- have the similar stories which can now be found to affect youths starting at a younger age.

In the Political Declaration that came out of the UN High Level Meeting on NCDs, the section on youth can be found in paragraph 24, regarding obesity. However in this Political Declaration, youth has only been seen as the target, rather than actors who can be further involved in eliminating NCDs. What can be seen from the Political Declaration is two things: the lack of international belief to put youth ahead in NCD leadership and the lack of youth’s active participation to work to address NCDs.There is no doubt that young people are creative and enthusiastic.The younger age is when all of the life’s potentials and interests drive us where to go, rather than things like job responsibilities.

I was a week away from my 22nd birthday when I had the chance to attend the UN High-level Meeting on NCDs as part of the official delegation of my country, Indonesia. Most people might question how a young person like me, who is a student, can be a part of their country’s delegation. The answer is easy-because young people are starting to be heard.

It was not easy to be the part of my country’s delegation to the UN High-level Meeting. The pressure was high and there was always doubt- whether I was qualified enough to be on the delegation, whether I might make a difference after I went back home. The same doubt that has become the stereotype of how older people can see the young.Young people can be inexperienced, unwise, and careless. But that doesn’t mean that young people should not be brought into play. History has written how young people can affect a fast change in their country. Young people should be involved.

Therefore, young people should show their commitment in tackling NCDs. I am pleased to have many of friends who fight for defeating NCDs with their unique programmes in certain communities. I am honored by every update from my friends on their advocacy work to pressure the government to implement real action, instead of only commitments to fight NCDs. And I will certanly be excited and happy if young people finally succeeded in creating a youth platform for tackling NCDs.

Let’s be excited. Let’s move fast and act fast, like how young people always do.

by: Shela Putri Sundawa - Marketing, Campaign, and Advocacy Director CIMSA 2011-2012