Call to enhance collaboration on NCDs

ZANZIBAR: HEALTH stakeholders have called for increased collaboration between themselves and policymakers to improve the management and prevention of the rising rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), while also working to secure reliable funding for healthcare services.

This call was made during the 11th Annual Tanzania Health Summit (THS held at the Zanzibar International Trade Fair Centre).

The summit was attended by various health professionals from the government and different healthcare organisations in the country.

Research shows that individuals living with HIV are at a higher risk of developing NCDs such as high blood pressure and diabetes, which puts them at even greater risk of mortality if they do not receive timely and appropriate treatment and care.

The forum, organised by THPS with funding from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC)/PEPFAR, focused on how the government and stakeholders can strengthen health systems to save lives, particularly among vulnerable groups.

“We are witnessing a rise in non-communicable diseases in people who are already living with communicable diseases like HIV and tuberculosis.

NCDs, especially high blood pressure and diabetes, are expensive to treat,” said Dr Redempta Mbatia, Executive Director of Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS), who spoke at the summit under the theme ‘Public, NGOs and Private Sector Partnerships for Sustainable Prevention and Care: Integrated Models for Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases.’

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She added: “ It is the right time to unite our efforts and work towards preventing these diseases in patients already receiving treatment for communicable diseases, which also require significant donor funding,”

Prof Kaushik Ramaiya, an NCD specialist and Chairperson of the Tanzania Diabetes Association (TDA), was among the speakers at the forum.

He highlighted the severe impact of NCDs, such as strokes, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, urging people to change their lifestyles, particularly their eating habits and exercise routines.

“Most NCDs, which are responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, could be prevented through healthy eating and regular physical activity. We need to intensify awareness and education on how to prevent and manage these diseases in our communities to save lives,” Prof Ramaiya emphasised.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NCDs kill approximately 41 million people each year, which accounts for 74 per cent of all deaths globally. Of these deaths, 77 per cent occur in low- and middle-income countries.