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Open Access 01-12-2016 | Correspondence

Monitoring and accountability for the Pacific response to the non-communicable diseases crisis

Authors: Hilary Tolley, Wendy Snowdon, Jillian Wate, A. Mark Durand, Paula Vivili, Judith McCool, Rachel Novotny, Ofa Dewes, Damian Hoy, Colin Bell, Nicola Richards, Boyd Swinburn

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2016

Abstract

Background

Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are the leading cause of premature death and disability in the Pacific. In 2011, Pacific Forum Leaders declared “a human, social and economic crisis” due to the significant and growing burden of NCDs in the region. In 2013, Pacific Health Ministers’ commitment to ‘whole of government’ strategy prompted calls for the development of a robust, sustainable, collaborative NCD monitoring and accountability system to track, review and propose remedial action to ensure progress towards the NCD goals and targets. The purpose of this paper is to describe a regional, collaborative framework for coordination, innovation and application of NCD monitoring activities at scale, and to show how they can strengthen accountability for action on NCDs in the Pacific. A key component is the Dashboard for NCD Action which aims to strengthen mutual accountability by demonstrating national and regional progress towards agreed NCD policies and actions.

Discussion

The framework for the Pacific Monitoring Alliance for NCD Action (MANA) draws together core country-level components of NCD monitoring data (mortality, morbidity, risk factors, health system responses, environments, and policies) and identifies key cross-cutting issues for strengthening national and regional monitoring systems. These include: capacity building; a regional knowledge exchange hub; innovations (monitoring childhood obesity and food environments); and a robust regional accountability system.

The MANA framework is governed by the Heads of Health and operationalised by a multi-agency technical Coordination Team. Alliance membership is voluntary and non-conditional, and aims to support the 22 Pacific Island countries and territories to improve the quality of NCD monitoring data across the region. In establishing a common vision for NCD monitoring, the framework combines data collected under the WHO Global Framework for NCDs with a set of action-orientated indicators captured in a NCD Dashboard for Action.

Summary

Viewing NCD monitoring as a multi-component system and providing a robust, transparent mutual accountability mechanism helps align agendas, roles and responsibilities of countries and support organisations. The dashboard provides a succinct communication tool for reporting progress on implementation of agreed policies and actions and its flexible methodology can be easily expanded, or adapted for other regions.

The 12 countries with highest prevalence of diabetes are: American Samoa, Nauru, Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu, the Federated States of Micronesia (f) / French Polynesia (m), Tonga, Kiribati, and Marshall Islands. Note: the country order varies with males and females (http://www.ncdrisc.org/dm-ranking-prevalence.html).

The 12 countries with highest obesity prevalence are: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Nauru, French Polynesia, Niue, Samoa, Palau, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Note: the country order varies with obese and severely obese, males and females (http://www.ncdrisc.org/ranking-prevalence-obesity.html).

There are a total of 22 Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). These are: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna,

Political commitments include: The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), 2003; The Tonga Commitment, 2003; The Global Strategy on Diet Physical Activity and Health, 2004; The Pacific Framework for the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, 2007; The Western Pacific Regional Action Plan for Non-communicable Diseases, 2009; The Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol, 2010; The Honiara Communiqué, 2011; and The Apia Communiqué, 2013.

To maximise the effectiveness of efforts against NCDs, in 2007 SPC and WHO joined forces to develop a Pacific Framework for the Prevention and Control of NCDs and this formed the basis of the 2-1-22 Program - 2 organisations, 1 team and 22 countries.

INFORMAS (International Network for Food and Obesity / non-communicable Diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support) is a global network of public-interest organisations and researchers that aims to monitor, benchmark and support public and private sector actions to create healthy food environments and reduce obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their related inequalities.

⁷ The six northern United States affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) are: American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau

The six northern United States affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) are: American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau

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Title: Monitoring and accountability for the Pacific response to the non-communicable diseases crisis
Authors: Hilary Tolley
Wendy Snowdon
Jillian Wate
A. Mark Durand
Paula Vivili
Judith McCool
Rachel Novotny
Ofa Dewes
Damian Hoy
Colin Bell
Nicola Richards
Boyd Swinburn
Publication date: 01-12-2016
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3614-8

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Monitoring and accountability for the Pacific response to the non-communicable diseases crisis

Abstract

Background

Discussion

Summary

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Discussion

Summary

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