Chapter 4

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Chapter 4 Reducing risks and preventing disease: population-wide interventions47Chapter 4 Reducing risks and preventing disease: population-wide interventions The global epidemic of NCDs can be reversed through modest investments in interventions. Some effective approaches are so low in cost that country income levels need not be a major barrier to successful prevention. What is needed are high levels of commitment, good planning, community mobilization and intense focus on a small range of critical actions. With these, quick gains will be achieved in reducing the major behavioural risk factors: tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, together with key risk factors for cancer, notably some chronic Chapter demonstrates that best practices exist in many countries with different income levels. It reviews affordable actions that are evidence-based and can be taken immediately to save lives and prevent disease.

Chapter 4 – Reducing risks and preventing disease: population-wide interventions 49 Cooperation: Virtually all countries that have implemented successful tobacco control programmes – countries from all regions and income levels – have engaged diverse sectors such as fi nance, trade,

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