ABSTRACT
People living with NCDs are essential stakeholders in designing and implementing policies and programmes for NCD prevention and control. With first-hand experience of the impact that NCDs have on how they live and work, people with NCDs can identify barriers and solutions that policymakers and health professionals may not readily see or cannot provide. This chapter describes how people living with NCDs can provide first-hand insight into the challenges for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and palliation of NCDs, as well as how people living with NCDs can play a critical role in providing support to others in managing their condition, either directly or through formal and informal disease-specific associations or self-help groups. The chapter also describes ways and examples of how people living with NCDs can advocate for or directly support action towards more effective policy, governance, programming and advocacy for the prevention and control of NCDs. The chapter concludes by highlighting a number of challenges that prevent or limit people living with NCDs from contributing to NCD prevention and control.
