Rebuilding Better in the Context of COVID-19 (London & Paris)

One fourth (22%) of the world’s population is estimated to have Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) that increases their vulnerability to COVID-19. NCDs kill 41 million people each year — accounting for 71% of deaths globally, including 15 million people between the ages of 30 and 69, whilst over 85% of deaths from NCDs occur in low- and middle-income countries.

X-Crop, as part of an international call for tender by the British Embassy in France, proposed the need for researching and understanding the immediate impact of NCDs — hypertension, cancer treatment, diabetes, cardiovascular emergencies, and mental health — and their longer-term scenarios for Covid-19 response, recovery and rebuilding better by city governments. The proposal focuses on the opportunities and risks as well as the steps and actions needed for cost-effective interventions that tackle the issues surrounding NCDs across Greater London and Greater Paris regions during and beyond the pandemic.

Prevention and treatment services for NCDs have been severely disrupted since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Thus, understanding the major barriers and how can people have better access to treatment for hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, cancer or diabetes is crucial. This pandemic is also exacerbating inequality, including in NCDs, especially in disadvantaged communities. It is important for cities like London and Paris to understand the drivers behind the increasing social and economic inequalities, and how the governments can shape new health-seeking behaviour for individuals and groups. Furthermore, the pandemic poses a strong threat for the disabled, migrants and people in fragile and humanitarian settings. Therefore, understanding the weaknesses in the current health systems and supply chains is strongly needed to help key local and national bodies develop and build new and better ones for all.

This research proposal takes into consideration the impact of the pandemic on people with NCDs by understanding current vulnerabilities, the difficulties with access to health care and health-related issues. It aims to achieve long-term goals and reduce inequalities in health care by understanding future scenarios and needs of diverse body of people across different countries. In addition, it explores and measures the impact on vulnerable countries and the wider supply chains by analysing multi-layered issues and responses in different contexts.

The aim of this research proposal was to ensure healthy lives and well-being that pinpoints context-specific actions on NCDs is achieved during and post COVID-19 pandemic through human-centered policies that extend NCD-related activities as part of rebuilding better. It hoped to identify avenues for healthcare with broader cultural, environmental, socio-economic and humanitarian factors related to urban and rural locations through policies that support and work with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as well as to achieve COP26 and Agenda 2030 targets by forming a collective framework for current and future pandemics.