Global Life Expectancy Continues to Rise

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon reports that global life expectancy increased sharply, from 47 years in 1950-55 to 68 years in 2005-2010.  According to the report, people are living longer mainly because of improvements in nutrition and hygiene, as well medical advancements that have successfully countered communicable diseases. In fact, the main cause of deaths in all regions of the world, except sub-Saharan Africa, which continues to battle HIV/AIDS, has shifted from communicable to non-communicable diseases.  Pointing out that because most of non-communicable diseases are chronic in nature and often necessitate long-term treatment and management, the report urges an intensification of efforts to delay the onset of illness.