Chronic Disease Brief For Africa (April 2017) By Dara Oloyede
April 2017 Health news
Kenya Is Ranked 6th in Africa as Having the Highest Depression Cases
WHO: Half a Million Africans Die from Cancer Annually
Zimbabwe: Untreated Diabetes Has Higher Rates of Death Than HIV
WANDA: Empowering Women and Girls To Lead a Healthier Generation
Nigeria: Lack of Mental Health Policy Places Many At Risk
Kenya Is Ranked 6th in Africa as Having the Highest Depression Cases
In Kenya “two in three people are unaware that they are suffering from depression” allafrica.com. Chitayi Murabula, a psychiatrist and mental health advocate, said that mental health disorders are a rising health concern in Kenya. Currently there are only 88 psychiatrists available in the region. The WHO estimated that in Kenya there are at least 2 million people who suffer from Depression. Kenya is ranked 6th in Africa as having the highest number of cases of depression. Dr. Margaret Chan, said that these figures of depression on the continent are a "wake-up call" for nations to develop a new approach to mental health (allafrica.com). The ministry of health said they are implementing the Kenyan Mental Health Policy which lays out strategies for community-based approaches to preventing and treating depression. These interventions are focused on strengthening protective factors and reducing the risk factors of depression. This plan also includes working with children and adolescents in schools, the elderly, those who have experienced traumatic life situations, and in the maternal health sector (allafrica.com).
For more information check out this article at allafrica.com: Kenya: Depression identified as major health risk to all
WHO: Half a Million Africans Die from Cancer Annually
The WHO reported that each year half a million Africans die from cancer (voanews.com). The leading cancers on the continent are breast cancer, cervix and prostate cancer. Dr. Andre Ilbawi, who is the technical officer for cancer control at the WHO in Geneva, said that alcohol use, obesity, and little to no physical activity are possible contributors to breast cancer. Other contributors include compromised immune systems weakened by infectious and communicable diseases (voanews.com).
For more information on the WHO’s recommended guidelines for preventing and treating cancer, check out this article at voanews.com: WHO: Half a Million Africans Die from Cancer Annually
Zimbabwe: Untreated Diabetes Has Higher Rates of Death Than HIV
Mr. John Mangwiro, president of the Zimbabwe Diabetes Association, said that 10% of the nation’s population is affected by diabetes (allafrica.com). He noted that untreated diabetes, as well as other types of non-communicable disease, leads to higher rates of mortality than HIV. He said that many are aware of how to prevent HIV, but not diabetes. Mangwiro says that diabetes without treatment can lead to multiple adverse health outcomes, such as stroke, kidney failure, and heart attacks. His organization has already held a training session for health professionals on diabetes. He says that many are aware of how to prevent HIV, but not diabetes. Health experts attribute urbanization and obesity as being key contributors to the rise of diabetes in Africa (allafrica.com).
For more information check out this article at allafrica.com: Zimbabwe: Diabetes Education Pays Off
WANDA: Empowering Women and Girls To Lead a Healthier Generation
Across the U.S. and the African continent, many Africans (or those of African descent) are dealing with diet related conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. The WHO has estimated that by 2020, 4 million people in Africa will die from non-communicable diseases (voanews.com). Nutritionist Tambra Raye Stevenson leads an organization called WANDA—Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics, and agriculture. This organization is based in Washington and Nigeria, and it’s focus is to “develop the next generation of women and girls as leaders in nutrition” (voanews.com). Some of Stevenson's work includes teaching nutrition and doing cooking demos, and she has also written a bilingual children’s book series. Stevenson goals is to “build an army of women who are about creating a healthier generation” (voanews.com).
For more information, check out this article at voanews.com: WANDA: Nourishing the world one little girl at a time
To learn more this organization visit the website at http://iamwanda.org
Nigeria: Lack of Mental Health Policy Places Many At Risk
According to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), there is still not an implemented mental health policy. Besides Lagos, the NMA says that there are no programs that provide coordinated mental health care. This organization plans on working with the National Assembly to pass a mental health bill. President of the NMA, Dr. Mike Ogirima said that those with mental illness were the “most neglected” because of the stigma of being seen as “having a defective character or being under punishment for spiritual deviance” (dailytrust.com). Due to gaps in the capacity to serve patients and help them treat and manage their illness, Dr. Ogirima advocates for available health professionals to seek training in order to serve mental health patients (dailytrust.com).
For more information check out this article at the dailytrust.com: Nigeria has no mental health policy—NMA
Dara Oloyede is the African News Correspondent for Engage Africa Foundation, and she is pursuing her Masters of Public Health. During her free time she likes to read books, spend time with friends, go to the movies, concerts, as well as events that celebrate different cultures.
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