Chronic Disease Brief For Africa (January 2018) By Dara Oloyede

• Ethiopia: Raising Awareness to Prevent and Control NCDs

• Nigeria: Niger State To Screen 1 Million Cancer Patients, and Treat 20 Diagnosed

• Ghana: Call for National Healthy Diet Policy

• Kenya: Government Scales Up Efforts to Reduce NCDs

• Nigeria: Edo State Set To Upgrade 450 Primary Healthcare Centers Across the State

 

Ethiopia: Raising Awareness to Prevent and Control NCDs

Currently, Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 44% of deaths in Ethiopia (Yohannes, 2018). This is expected to rise to 70% if nothing is done to prevent and control this issue. The Ministry of Health is working to address NCDs through interventions that raise awareness about the issue. Dr. Bisrat Desalegn, who is the NCDs Team Coordinator at the Ministry of Health, noted that NCDs are mostly caused by risky behaviors, so his team's goal is to create interventions that will promote behavior change. Dr. Desalegn team is also restructuring the strategy they initially created in 2014 to account for new discoveries, current events and conditions affecting the population (Yohannes, 2018).

For more information check out this article at The Ethiopian Herald: Ethiopia startegizing awareness promotion intervention to prevent, control NCDs

 

Nigeria: Niger State To Screen 1 Million Cancer Patients, and Treat 20 Diagnosed

In Niger State, the government plans to screen one million cancer patients and treat 20 diagnosed patients each year for the next 5 years (Dipo, 2018). This is a part of the Memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the government, Roche Products Limited and RAISE Foundation. Under this agreement, the state government will cover up to 30% of the total cost, and Roche Limited will cover the remainder of the cost. The MoU also includes a goal to create a cancer center that would be sustainable and generate funds for the region (Dipo, 2018).

For more information check out this article at This Day: Niger to Screen 1m Cancer Patients, Treat 20 Diagnosed Cases Annually

 

Ghana: Call for National Healthy Diet Policy

In Ghana, the Institute of Leadership and Development (INSLA) is advocating for the creation of a National Healthy Diet Policy to tackle the growing prevalence of NCDs (GNA, 2018).  In a statement issued by INSLA, they stated that 31% of diseases are NCDs which results in the death of 86,200 people each year. Data shows that one of the factors that has contributed to the rising rates of NCDs is unhealthy eating. Their policy recommendation calls for the regulation of sugar, salt, and fat in drinks and food products. The statement urges that the government takes action on this policy in order to reduce incidences of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity (GNA, 2018).

For more information check out this article at Modern Ghana: Policy On Diet To Reduce Non-Communicable Diseases

 

Kenya: Government Scales Up Efforts to Reduce NCDs

The Ministry of Health is increasing its efforts to meet the rising prevalence of Non-communicable diseases (Citizen Digital, 2018). The Ministry of Health partnered with AstraZeneca’s Healthy Heart Africa in this effort to address of the burden of NCDs.  This organization works to reduce hypertension and cardiovascular diseases across the continent. Healthy Heart Africa works with various Ministries of Health to raise awareness about hypertension and provide high-quality and affordable medication to those who are diagnosed with the condition. Since the development of the initiative, millions of people in Kenya have been able to receive free blood pressure screenings. Additionally, in the past three years over 4,000 healthcare workers were trained (Citizen Digital, 2018).  

For more information check out this article at Citizen Digital: Gov’t up scales efforts to tame Non-Communicable Diseases

 

Nigeria: Edo State Set to Upgrade 450 Primary Healthcare Centers Across the State

Edo state is currently in the process of upgrading Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) across the state (This Day, 2018). Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo state, said that they are currently finishing up the renovations for 25 out of the 450 PHCs in the next four months, and the rest will be upgraded within 2 years. These renovations are being put into place to increase access to healthcare and improve healthcare delivery. The goal is that these developments will also increase access for those who live in rural areas. The governor noted that the government will continue its work in supporting policies to advance grassroots development and include those who live in rural communities as active stakeholders in the development and management of the PHCs in their communities (This Day, 2018).

For more information check out this article at This Day : Edo begins upgrade of 450 Health Centers, 25 ready in 4 months

 

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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