Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne warned world leaders Friday that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer pose a “silent global health crisis,” accounting for three-quarters of all deaths in the Caribbean.

Speaking at the U.N. General Assembly, Browne said NCDs have become the most significant cause of death worldwide and must be treated with the same urgency as infectious diseases. “They account for 75% of all deaths in the Caribbean,” he told delegates, noting the heavy toll the diseases take on families, economies and health systems.

He stressed that the crisis requires a coordinated international response, including greater investment in prevention, early detection and equitable access to treatment. Browne argued that low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately burdened by the cost of managing chronic illnesses, which divert limited resources from development priorities.

Browne’s remarks followed his call for mental health to be recognized as a human right and as an essential part of sustainable development. He urged governments to increase health budgets dedicated to mental wellness and NCD prevention, warning that without intervention, the social and economic costs will continue to rise.

The prime minister’s intervention highlighted the Caribbean’s efforts to push health issues higher on the global agenda, as the region grapples with aging populations, changing diets, and limited capacity to address lifestyle-related illnesses.