The Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, the Harvard Chan India Research Center and Ambuja Foundation will engage through a Symposium on Non-Communicable Disease in Mumbai on the 17th of January 2019.

The Symposium will focus on sharing models that have been implemented globally for the control of Non-Communicable Diseases and explore ways of developing a strategy for the Indian context.

Working in collaboration, the event provides a platform to share experiences and gain insights into the work being done by Ambuja Foundation, and to facilitate possibilities of further engagement and collaboration between the School and Ambuja Foundation.

The disease pattern in India, particularly rural India, has undergone a significant shift over the last 15 years. A 2001-2003 Government of India report on the causes of death revealed that the deaths in rural India due to communicable disease (41%) were almost matched by those due to Non-Communicable Diseases (40%).

Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have unquestionably become a healthcare priority in India. The pattern of NCDs in rural India looks largely similar to that of urban India. High blood pressure, the biggest risk factor for death worldwide, now affects one in five adults in rural India, while diabetes affects about one in 20 adults.

There is also a significant economic threat posed by NCDs. NCDs not only affect health, but also productivity and economic growth. The probability of dying during the most productive years (ages 30-70) from one of the four main NCDs is a staggering 26%. As such, India stands to lose $4.58 trillion before 2030 due to NCDs and mental health conditions.