Heads of State
Heads of Government
Dr Tedros Adhanom, Director General of the World Health Organization
Distinguished guests
Malta, like most countries across the world, is experiencing an increase in all non-communicable diseases.
The leading cause of death in Malta is cardiovascular diseases, with a quarter of deaths occurring prematurely. On a positive note, deaths from ischemic heart disease have shown a relatively consistent downward trend in the Maltese Islands.
Research by the World Cancer Research Fund, shows that the rate of cancer cases in Malta is expected to rise by a shocking 49 percent by 2030. This effectively means that one out of every two people living in Malta will be diagnosed with cancer.
On the other hand, there is some positive news, as mortality from treatable cancers declined substantially. These trends partially reflect improvements in available treatment and care, as well as in the public health policies related mainly to smoking.
Malta’s obesity rate, however, remains a major public health concern.
I am pleased to note, that my government has reacted to this situation primarily through legislation. Malta was in the forefront in enacting the tobacco control laws, including the Smoking in Public Places law. Malta is also an active participant in the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
I am informed that Malta has acceded to the Protocol to Eliminate illicit Trade on Tobacco that came into force yesterday.
In 2016, the Maltese Parliament passed an act to establish and ensure an inter-ministerial lifelong approach towards physical education and healthy balanced diets for a healthy lifestyle, to reduce the level of non-communicable diseases throughout all age groups.
This holistic approach goes beyond putting the onus of responsibility on policy makers and health care providers. It also encompasses a multi stakeholder attempt to address health in all policies, involving many sectors, from finance and trade, to agriculture, and through a social determinant methodology.
I am proud to say that Malta’s government has put in place a number of initiatives, mainly to reduce health inequalities, such as; encouraging women to be gainfully occupied by providing free child-care, and by addressing childhood obesity in schools, amongst others.
Malta also has a number of strategies that aim to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases. These include:
- the Food and Nutrition Policy and Action Plan for Malta
- a National Alcohol Policy
- a National Cancer Strategy
My country is relatively new to cancer research. However, I am optimistic that the recently founded Emmanuele Cancer Research Foundation and the National Cancer Foundation will provide innovative and much-needed research.
I augur that research will be focused on environmental determinants of cancer in Malta and the Mediterranean region.
The time has now come to move from rhetoric to action; Heads of State and Heads of Government, need to realize that if we are to reach Sustainable Development Goal 3, specifically target 4, we have to act now, by providing the financial and human resources to address effectively non-communicable diseases.
It is also necessary to further strengthen collaboration among health authorities, health professionals, private enterprise and civil society, not only on a national level, but also on a regional level and globally.
It is without doubt, time to deliver.