Slow, long-term conditions which are responsible for over 60% of global deaths every year. These are often dismissed as “lifestyle” diseases which individuals could avoid if they really wanted by limiting their exposure to common risk factors: poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking. But for many parts of the population these factors are beyond their control due to socioeconomic influences, cultural traditions and living conditions. The majority of premature deaths caused by chronic diseases occur in developing countries, and not in wealthy developed ones.
 
What can we do to change this? How can we use technology to spread awareness and empower people to confront these diseases and control their exposure to risk factors? Do global solutions exist or will every community need their own approach – and how will these be built? These are some of the questions the session will address, as well as discussing how local innovators from Africa and everywhere can be involved in solving the problem.
 

This session is part of the GIG programme and hosted by ITU.