By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Harare, 21 September 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm on the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions, urging countries to scale up affordable solutions that could save millions of lives and generate vast economic returns.
In its new report “Saving lives, spending less”, WHO estimates that an additional US$3 per person annually invested in NCD prevention and care could yield US$1 trillion in economic benefits by 2030.
NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory conditions are now the leading killers worldwide. Alarmingly, WHO notes that nearly 75% of deaths linked to NCDs and mental health conditions occur in low- and middle-income countries, including across Africa.
The report highlights the uneven progress countries have made between 2010 and 2019. While 82% of nations reduced premature deaths from NCDs, 60% saw progress slow compared to the previous decade.
In Africa, Nigeria recorded improvements in NCD mortality, driven largely by better management of cardiovascular disease and cancer detection. Yet many other African countries face rising challenges.
South Africa, for instance, continues to grapple with high rates of hypertension, diabetes, and alcohol-related illnesses, while Zimbabwe is experiencing an upsurge in diet-related conditions due to the growing consumption of ultra-processed foods.
“The rising tide of NCDs is not just a health crisis it is an economic one,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We have the tools to save lives and reduce suffering. The challenge is implementation.”
WHO officials stressed that proven, cost-effective interventions — known as “Best Buys” — could dramatically cut premature deaths. These include taxing tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks; scaling up cancer screening; and strengthening primary health care for prevention and treatment.
However, tobacco, alcohol, and processed food industries remain major obstacles. “It is unacceptable that commercial interests are profiting from increasing deaths and disease,” said Dr Etienne Krug, WHO’s Director of Health Determinants.
The warning comes just days before the Fourth UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting (HLM4) on NCDs and mental health, scheduled for 25 September in New York. Heads of State and Government will meet to adopt a new Political Declaration to accelerate action toward the 2030 targets.
Dr Devora Kestel, WHO’s Director for NCDs and Mental Health, said governments that act decisively could “save lives, cut costs, and unlock growth,” while those that delay would pay “in lost lives and weaker economies.”
For Africa, the stakes are high. The continent already faces the double burden of infectious diseases such as malaria and HIV, alongside fast-rising NCDs. Experts warn that without urgent policy changes, Africa risks losing decades of development gains.
For example:
- In Kenya, taxes on sugary drinks have helped slow rising obesity rates, but enforcement remains inconsistent.
- In Ethiopia, a tobacco tax introduced in 2020 has been praised as a model but continues to face strong industry resistance.
- In South Africa, alcohol-related violence and accidents remain a major public health challenge, prompting calls for stricter regulations.
As leaders head to New York, WHO is urging African governments to commit funding, strengthen accountability, and resist corporate interference. The report insists that the solutions are both available and affordable but political will is the critical missing ingredient.