ICN Issues a Call to Nurses Everywhere: Lead the Fight against Chronic Disease
12 May 2010, Geneva, Switzerland – As the world faces a massive increase in the levels of death and disability resulting from chronic disease, there is an urgent need for nurses everywhere to proactively engage with all parts of the community and all sectors to address this growing threat to global health and development.
Statistics now show that 60% of deaths globally are due to
chronic disease and 80% of these occur in low and middle income
countries. On the occasion of International Nurses Day, the
International Council of Nurses (ICN) is calling on nurses
everywhere to move to action, in their personal lives and
professional roles, to stem the pandemic of chronic disease.
"It is now more important than ever that nurses work to ensure
that healthy choices are easy choices," declared ICN President
Rosemary Bryant. "If each of the world's 13 million nurses made a
personal commitment to eat healthily, exercise appropriately, and
avoid the use of tobacco, this would improve their health and well
being and reduce the likelihood of their developing chronic
disease. If each of these nurses acted as role models, educators
and change agents among their families, friends, workplaces and
local communities to promote healthier lifestyles, together we
could help to halt the tide of chronic disease."
The magnitude of the problem
The scale of the problem is huge. Diabetes, cardiovascular
diseases, respiratory diseases and some cancers represent a leading
threat to human health and development and are the world's biggest
killers.
- WHO estimates that more than 180 million people worldwide have
diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 2030.
- An estimated 17.1 million people died from cardiovascular
diseases (CVDs) in 2004, representing 29% of all global deaths. Of
these deaths, an estimated 7.2 million were due to coronary heart
disease and 5.7 million were due to stroke.
- Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue rising,
with an estimated 12 million deaths in 2030.
These diseases are preventable. Up to 80% of heart disease,
stroke and type 2 diabetes and over a third of cancers could be
prevented by eliminating shared risk factors, mainly tobacco use,
unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol.
Unless addressed, the mortality and disease burden from these
health problems will continue to increase.
Along with adopting a healthy lifestyle, nurses can advocate for
legislation and regulation that facilitates healthy choices for
example with regard to food manufacturing, labelling and pricing;
lobby for evidence based allocation of national resources to
support effective, healthy interventions; work with schools and
workplaces to promote healthy environments and practices; and use
all opportunities to inform and educate patients and families.
This call to action demands the attention and response of
individual nurses everywhere in the world, regardless of specialty,
place or type of practice. Educated and empowered nurses and
communities can contribute more effectively to the wider changes
needed in health and social policy as well as structural changes
locally, nationally and internationally.
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The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a
federation of more than 130 national nurses associations
representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses
and leading nursing internationally since 1899 ICN works to ensure
quality nursing care for all and sound health policies
globally.
For further information contact
Linda Carrier-Walker
Tel: +41 22 908 0100 - Fax: +41 22 908 0101
Email: carrwalk@icn.ch - ICN Website: www.icn.ch