1st SEAR NCD Conference 2024: Regional Collaboration Towards Holistic and Integrated NCD Prevention and Control in South East Asia

The 1st South East Asia Regional (SEAR) Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Conference, held from August 21 to 23, 2024, was organized by the South East Asia Regional NCD Alliance (SEAR-NCDA), supported by the Global NCD Alliance and Eminence Associates for Social Development. This inaugural event was a response to the alarming rise of NCDs, which are the leading cause of death globally, and particularly in the SEAR, where they account for 69% of deaths. The conference sought to address the gaps in NCD services across the region, particularly in early detection, treatment, and access to essential medicines, as many countries are at risk of missing the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4 target for reducing premature mortality from NCDs

The first SEAR NCD Conference brought together over 345 participants from 17 countries to discuss strategies for addressing the alarming rise of non-communicable diseases in the region. The conference focused on early detection, treatment, and access to essential medicines, as well as strengthening multi-sectoral engagement, community involvement, and gender-sensitive approaches. The objectives of the conference were to share regional data, facilitate collaborations, raise awareness, and inform policy decisions through featuring 70 resource persons, including 50 experts who led nine plenary sessions, and 25 speakers in six advocacy sessions.

Participants worked collectively towards solutions to improve NCD care, while the event also fostered partnerships, shared regional data, and raised awareness of NCDs' growing public health impact. Among the notable speakers was Farida Akhter, Advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of Bangladesh, who emphasized the critical role of multi-sectoral collaboration in tackling NCDs and improving public health outcomes. The conference served as a crucial step towards aligning national and regional efforts to combat NCDs with global initiatives, and provided key recommendations for shaping policy decisions ahead of the United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs (UNHLM-NCD) in 2025.

In conclusion, The SEAR NCD Conference called for increased international collaboration and financial commitment to combat non-communicable diseases in the region. It emphasized the importance of global partnerships, financial investment, and incorporating the lived experiences of those affected.