The Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD) is a global network convened by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of stakeholders with a vision of “a world where all people breathe freely”. It is a voluntary alliance of national and international organizations, institutions and agencies committed towards the common goal to reduce the global burden of respiratory diseases.
The GARD initiative was set up to respond to a resolution of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2000 (resolution WHA53.17) that emphasized the need to increase awareness of the growing epidemic of chronic diseases worldwide. GARD was officially launched in 2006 in Beijing, with 4 strategic objectives: 1. Advocacy, 2. Partnership, 3. National plans on prevention and control, and 4. Surveillance.
The GARD governance structure and the methods of working were updated in 2022 to align with the Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA) that was endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2016. Under the revised terms of reference, GARD remains an informal network for stakeholders to engage in the promotion of lung health: through prevention, diagnosis, and management of chronic respiratory diseases. GARD’s work is supported by Secretariat from the noncommunicable diseases (NCD) Management unit within the NCD Department at the WHO.
The priorities of GARD and WHO are closely aligned and guided by the WHO General Programme of Work and the WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013–2030.
The overarching goal of GARD is to reduce the global burden of chronic respiratory diseases, focusing on low- and middle-income countries. The current priority areas for GARD activities are:
- Improve access to effective care for people living with asthma and COPD
- Reduce exposure to key risk factors including tobacco and air pollution
- Expand and strengthen the GARD network
WHO appoints the 10 members of the GARD Steering Committee, which provides the overall strategic direction, in consultation with WHO, for the operative work of GARD. The members include representatives from national and international organizations, institutions and agencies, including those for patients, from all six WHO regions (Africa, Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia, Western Pacific).
GOLD is currently a member of the GARD Steering Committee and is represented by Professor David Halpin.
WHO knowledge action portal on NCDs
The Knowledge Action Portal on NCDs (KAP) is a knowledge sharing and community platform dedicated to enhancing NCD prevention and control through multisectoral and multistakeholder collaboration. The KAP is hosted by the World Health Organization’s Global Coordination Mechanism on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (GCM/NCD). Information about events and resources relating to chronic respiratory diseases is posted on the KAP.