Submitted by GAtherton on 19 October 2015
On 25th September, the UN formally adopted its 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) and 169 targets for 2030. These goals build on and expand the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), and integrate the economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainable development. Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) along with other major risk factors are linked to several of the SDGs. For instance, SDG3 pledges governments to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”.
Among the nine points that goal 3 covers, point 3.9 aims to achieve by 2030 a substantial decrease in the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination including strengthen implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries as appropriate. It is well known that poorly controlled asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are directly related to point 3.9. The world population of tobacco smokers has been increasing inexorably, leading to more many more COPD patients being hospitalised globally (see chart). The more severe forms of these two NCDs are associated with fungal pathogens including species of Aspergillus with and estimated prevalence of more than 10 million people worldwide. COPD patients are especially vulnerable to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, a serious condition with a very poor prognosis.
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