The Taskforce on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Women’s Health is the first concerted effort to convene a diverse group of global health organisations from the women’s health and NCD communities.

Founded by 12 organisations including UICC and the American Cancer Society, the Taskforce will work to increase awareness and support for a gender-based approach to NCDs.

The Need

Changes in women’s life expectancy, lifestyles and reproductive patterns have introduced new and unique burdens on women’s health systems due to the growing epidemic of NCDs. Women are particularly vulnerable to NCDs given the social, gender and economic inequalities that create inequities in access to critical health services, information and life-saving technologies.

The Opportunity

The landmark UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs marked the beginning of increased focus from the global health community and a growing political commitment to take urgent action on these diseases. The Taskforce is an opportunity to bring both a rights-based gender perspective to NCD control and to integrate NCD services into existing women’s health programmes.

Initial Activities

Taskforce efforts include targeted outreach to global health stakeholders to increase awareness, technical guidance to field programmes, and targeted policy recommendations to global and national policy makers that will meet the evolving and urgent women’s health needs in developing countries.

For more information and a full list of Taskforce members please visit: www.womenandncds.org