Despite an overall decrease in premature mortality in the Americas, just five countries are on track to achieve the 25% reduction target by 2025 – PAHO/WHO

Brasilia, March 26, 2025 (paho) – While Premature Mortality from Non -Communicable Diseases (NCDS) Such as Hypertension, Diabetes and Cancers, you have dropped in the Americas over the past decade, FROM 15.2% in 2010 to 14% in 2021, Just Five Countries of the region are on track Target of 25% Reduction in Premature Mortality from NCDS by 2025 (Known as the 25×25 target).

During the Regional Meeting on Prevention and Control of Non -Communicable Diseases, held from March 24 to 26 in Brasilia, Brazil, director of the PAHO, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, asked the countries to go to the key countries of mortality due to the EVs, which continue with about 6 million lives every year in the Americas.

«More than 240 million people in the Americas live with NCDS and require continuous treatment, most of which can be provided through primary health care,» said the director of the PAHO. «However, many people do not receive adequate attention or succumb to their illness due to poor management and control.»

«The economic dimensions of the UNCs are also amazing,» added Dr. Barbosa, highlighting that, although more studies are needed to determine the regional impact, current projections show that in ten countries of South America, the NCD and mental health conditions are expected to result in economic losses combined by a total of US $ 7.3 billion by 2050, equivalent to 4% of the subregional internal product (GDP).

«The good news is that we have the knowledge and tools to prevent and control the ENTs,» said Dr. Barbosa, including the «best purchases» of NCD: profitable policies and health interventions, such as increasing taxes on tobacco and alcohol; Food labeling implementation of the package front; Offering vaccination against human papilloma (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer, to girls under 15 years of age; and provide treatment for hypertension and diabetes, among others.

«Many of these interventions are already being implemented in our countries, but we must climb urgently and accelerate their implementation and provide quality medical care to all those affected,» he added.

The meeting, which summoned PAHO experts, heads of national NCD and civil society programs, focused on key priorities to accelerate progress towards 25×25 before the 4th High Level Meeting of the United Nations in NCD in September in September 2025. These include:

• Investment of investment and strengthening leadership in NCD prevention, policies to address risk factors and health services
• Expand access to primary health care to improve diagnosis, treatment and coverage
• Promote the coherence of politics in government sectors beyond health, including the establishment of NCD multisectoral commissions to address the problem comprehensively.

Better care for NCD

Paho continues to work with Americas countries to prevent and address NCDs, which are the number one cause of death and disability, both in the region and around the world.

To accelerate this work, in 2023 the director of the PAHO launched the Better Care for NCDS initiative, which aims to expand the equitable access of integrated and comprehensive NCD services within the primary health care in the Americas.

«I encourage you to join forces with Paho to implement this important initiative,» concluded Dr. Barbosa. «Working in collaboration, we can make significant advances to achieve the NCD objectives and improve the health and well -being of the people of the Americas.»