MISSION
Our mission is to improve individual and community health by preventing and reducing the impact of chronic disease through education and awareness of the risk factors, signs and symptoms related to chronic disease and in developing environmental and social policy strategies that support healthy life choices.

VISION
Maldivians inspired to be healthy and free of preventable chronic diseases and disabling conditions living in supportive communities

Description of the NCD Program
The program develops and implement NCD prevention activities targeting communities, schools, healthcare personnel, and other population groups to implement policy and environmental changes.

Funding is provided by the government and donor agencies such as World Health Organization.

NCD program also conducts prevention activities in partnership with Non-governmental organization to advance efforts to reduce chronic diseases.

Burden of Chronic Diseases
The burden of non-communicable diseases has become a major health burden. Patients admitted to the hospital complains of NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, …. And …..

In 2001, 26% of the deaths that occurred at IGMH were from diseases of the circulatory system and 14% of the deaths occurred were from various neoplasm or cancers.

Chronic diseases are characterized by having multiple risk factors, a long period between onset and development of symptoms, a prolonged course of illness, functional impairment or disability, and not being curable.

Population
The target population is the entire community. However, special emphasis is placed on

specific populations. For example, school children, elderly population and fishermen.

Focus on Policy and Environmental Change Strategies At this point in time the program mostly focus on individual behavior change. Research indicates that establishing health related policies and environmental changes impact many individuals by providing a foundation for making or maintaining healthy life choices. Hence future planning needs to be put towards policy and environmental change strategies rather than individual behavior change.