Over the next ten years, the number of annual deaths from NCDs in Africa is expected to rise by more than a quarter for reasons that include economic growth and connected lifestyle changes and behaviors like tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet, urbanization, and physical inactivity. From Philips’ 16-paged report, “Facing the Future: Tackling Non-Communicable Diseases in Africa”, it shows a summary of the degree of the challenge, and brings to fore, how it is being tackled in different countries by healthcare professionals, policy makers, and non-governmental organizations.
The report shows programs carried out in a wide range of countries, including South Africa, Egypt and Uganda, and shows how the envisaged increase in NCDs can potentially be identified on time, stopped or even upturned through ground-breaking results to surmount political, economic, clinical and technological barriers. These programs show how plausible it is to make available, adequate care even in isolated vicinities, and make positive impact in different people’s lives. This can be done through proper organization, public awareness campaigns, funding, and access to medical equipment and treatment.
“In 2008, nearly three million African deaths were attributable to preventable or treatable NCDs. That figure will rise by more than 25 percent in the next decade. Addressing this alarming increase in NCDs doesn’t require huge investment; proven programs delivered locally and cost-effectively using relatively low-tech devices and techniques – are the keys to resolving this growing challenge. I am proud that Philips, with its extensive 100-year legacy in Africa is helping to lead the way by developing and supporting a wide range of programs that quickly make real differences in peoples’ lives”. Peter van de Ven, Vice President & General Manager, Philips Healthcare Africa, said about the report.
Commenting on the findings in the report, Eric Silfen, Chief Medical Officer at Philips Healthcare states “Let’s adopt this report as our manifesto to speed simple, community-supported solutions in the areas of greatest need. Let’s tackle NCDs with the same urgency as we would any other kind of epidemic. Let’s conclude our unfinished business and bring 21st century health and well-being to Africa right now”.
The report is commissioned as part of Philips’ ‘Fabric of Africa’ campaign, a collaborative campaign to drive public-private partnerships and to improve healthcare access across the African continent. The campaign reflects the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (specifically goals 4 and 5), focusing on three key areas: maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases (specifically breast, cervical & cardiac health), infrastructure rehabilitation and clinical training.
Highlights of the report, which incorporates the results of a range of recent studies include:
•Recommendations to overcome the negative effects of observed nutrition transition in South Africa, namely the change in dietary patterns and nutrient intake during economic and social development
•Egypt is fighting diabetes in its country (the eighth highest prevalence of any country in the world) by promoting awareness through advocacy, providing workshops for health care professionals and assuming a crucial role to guide and inform other diabetes association’s on the continent.
•Positive results for increasing role of community health workers in rural settings across the continent to slow down the rise in breast cancer mortality. A successful example in Ethiopia demonstrated that, by providing culturally sensitive support, it is possible to demystify cancer and break down the barriers of stigma that prevent many women from seeking help while their disease is still treatable.
•Exclusive insights from experts working in Egypt and South Africa who discuss conditions and treatments, and education initiatives, that are the continent’s unique cardiology challenges.
Kemi Ajumobi
