Govt intensifies fight against NCDs

TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO 

Government is intensifying the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) amid calls for its integration in response to health emergencies.

Health and Child Care deputy minister Dr John Mangwiro said NCDs, which are conditions that are not spread through infection or through other people, are now the leading cause of death globally.

“NCDs have overtaken HIV and other diseases as common causes of illness and hospitalisation. As a country, we have stepped up efforts to raise awareness on NCDs through national public awareness campaigns. It is important to note that NCDs are the leading cause of death globally, with 15m people between the ages of 30 and 70 years dying every year,” Dr Mangwiro said at the second African Regional NCDs conference held in Victoria Falls last week.

He said the NCDs were the leading causes of death during Covid-19 and the government is taking them seriously and would “want to handle them at primary healthcare level”.

Dr Mangwiro no one and no place behind would be left behind as people living with NCDs are at a higher risk for mortality and morbidity in emergencies.

“So, let us improve the integration of NCDs in response to health emergencies. Together we can win the fight against NCDs,” he said, adding that the government has put initiatives to help in prioritising the NCDs.

“These initiatives include prioritising NCDs in the National Health Strategy (2022-2026), creating an NCD department led by the director of NCDs in the Ministry Health and Child Care, capacitating primary health care centres to integrate NCDs and mental health through training, procurement of equipment and NCD medicines.”