AFRICAN health ministers and development partners have canvassed urgent action by various stakeholders to address major Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the African region.
The first Africa Regional Ministerial Consultation on NCDs held in Brazzaville, Congo also came out with a declaration to strengthen and standardize national health systems to generate disaggregated data on the diseases which represent "a significant challenge" to people in the region.
Nigeria's Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu who was represented by the National Coordinator, NCD, Dr. Dappa George said that in Nigeria, NCDs including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, diseases of blood disorder (sickle cell disease in particular), mental health, violence and injuries were among the top 10 causes of mortality and morbidity mostly among adults, imposing heavy economic burden on the individual, community and health system.
In a statement by the World Health Organisation (WHO), African Region, the resolution adopted by the ministers also supported the use of all appropriate means including information and communication technologies to promote, intensify and increase health awareness and empowerment of individuals and communities.
Others are to develop and implement NCDs prevention and control strategies, guidelines, policies, legislations and regulatory frameworks to protect individuals, families and communities from unhealthy diets, harmful use of alcohol, tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke and unsafe food and from violence and injuries, advertising of unhealthy products, reorient national health systems towards the promotion and support of healthy lifestyles by individuals, families and communities within the primary health care context in order to effectively respond to complex social, cultural and behavioural aspects associated with NCDs.
The ministers also resolved to further strengthen health systems with appropriate attention to health financing; training and retraining the health workforce, procurement and distribution of medicines, vaccines, medical supplies and equipment, improving infrastructure, and, evidence-based and cost-effective service delivery for NCDs , identify and harness existing health initiatives, including global initiatives, to accelerate the prevention and control of NCDs and address integrated care in the context of primary health care and health systems strengthening.
The meeting aimed to support partnerships, alliances and networks bringing together national, regional and global players including academic and research institutions, public and private sectors, and civil society in order to collaborate in NCD prevention and control and to conduct innovative research relevant to the African context.
It was also aimed at allocating from national budgets, financial resources that are commensurate to the burden of NCDs to support NCD primary prevention and case management using primary health care approach and establish sustainable innovative and new financing mechanisms at national and international levels.
Source: African health ministers tackle non-communicable diseases (http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44462:african-health-ministers-tackle-non-communicable-diseases&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)