On Friday, the World Health Organization stated that COVID-19 resulted in the loss of 337 million life years in the first two years of the pandemic, as millions of people died prematurely.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, pose an alarming threat, according to the UN health agency’s annual world statistics report.

The most striking finding, based on data going up to 2022, was the estimate of how many years of life Covid had taken, according to WHO.

The pandemic wreaked worldwide devastation and claimed roughly seven million lives, with an estimated death toll of 20 million.

The WHO report uncovers how the virus itself, and the broader impact of the crisis, abruptly cut short the lives of millions of people.

Excess mortality data shows that about 14.9 million people most likely died due to the pandemic during 2020 and 2021, although WHO officially registered only 5.4 million COVID-19 deaths over that period.

Based on latest statistics, a more shocking discovery was made, saying that during those two years alone, COVID-19 resulted in the loss of 336.8 million years globally, that would otherwise have been alive.

“It’s like losing 22 years of life for every excess death,” Samira Asma, WHO’s assistant chief for data and analytics, told reporters ahead of the launch.

Off-track

“Significant inequities underpin the distribution of COVID-19 cases and deaths, as well as access to vaccinations,” as stated in the report.

WHO warned that the pandemic had thrown off-track many health-related indicators which had been improving for years.

During the first two decades of the century, the world has witnessed major improvements in maternal and child health, with deaths falling by one-third and one-half respectively.

The occurrence of infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria also dropped significantly, as did the risk of premature death from NCDs.

Global life expectancy rose from 67 years in 2000 to 73 in 2019.

However, after the pandemic erupted, existing inequalities in access to high-quality health care, routine immunisations and financial protection deepened, among other things sending the long improving trends on malaria and TB in the opposite direction.

‘Stark message’

The study showed that, despite overall health progress, the number of deaths caused each year by NCDs has increased.

In 2000, around 61 percent of global deaths annually were linked to NCDs. By 2019, the total jumped to 74 percent.

“If this trend continues, NCDs are projected to account for about 86 percent of the 90 million annual deaths by mid-century,” WHO pointed out.

“The report sends a stark message on the threat of noncommunicable diseases, which take an immense and increasing toll,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

He added that the findings indicate a need for “a substantial increase in investments in health and health systems to get back on track towards the Sustainable Development Goals.”

WHO noted that NCD deaths were on the rise despite a decline in exposure to many health risks, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption and unsafe water and sanitation.

However, the organization pointed out that exposure to other risks like air pollution remained high.

The report specifically warned that the prevalence of obesity was increasing with no sign of reversal.

AFP

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