Country Capacity Assessments and Accomplishments(cont...)

In 2000 and in 2005 WHO Headquarters in Geneva and the WHO Regional Offices conducted national NCD capacity assessment surveillance globally to benchmark and track the status of country-level NCD prevention and control efforts in a systematic manner.

These surveys had four objectives:

* To assess the current situation in relation to existing capacity for NCD prevention and control

* To identify constraints and needs; to set priorities

* To assist with planning, implementation

* Evaluations of NCD programs. The surveys had quantitative and qualitative components and used a self-administered questionnaire and key informant interviews.

In the South-East Asian Region the surveys were administered in both timeframes. They tracked progress in several areas including infrastructure (e.g. whether a country had an NCD unit), financial allocations to NCD, policies and programs, target setting, legislation/regulation, surveillance, and national treatment guidelines.