FG, WHO Partner to Tackle Non Communicable Diseases

FG, WHO Partner to Tackle Non Communicable Diseases
The Federal Ministry of Health, has joined forces with partners and other Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to reduce the prevalence of Non Communicable Diseases in Nigeria.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole made this declaration on Tuesday 18th December, 2018 while declaring open High Level Meeting on the Multisectoral Action Plan on Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Abuja.

The Minister said that Non Communicable Diseases are diseases such as cardiovascular, cancers, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and other specific conditions like injuries (from traffic crashes and violence), sickle cell disease, metal neurological and substance abuse disorder.

He said Non-communicable diseases is the number one cause of death globally, 71 % of deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases.

The Minister said harmful use of alcohol, tobacco unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle have been adduced as the leading risk factors of NCDs. He noted that reduction of tobacco smoking reduced drastically cardiovascular diseases.

Speaking on team work to curtail NCDs, Adewole said all the stakeholders must work together towards reduction of Non-communicable diseases.

“No single person can do it alone, I am quite happy about the need for multi sectoral action, we must join hand together be it Ministry of Education, Labour, Women Affairs, Budget and National Planning, Federal Road Safety Corps, NAFDAC, Security and law Enforcement Agencies, NDLEA, Power, Works and Housing, Agriculture, to ensure that we succeed in the fight against Non-communicable diseases” Adewole said.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, FMOH, Mr. Abduaziz M. Abdullahi said that morbidity and mortality from Non-communicable diseases are increasing at alarming rate and is affecting the socio economic development of the country.

He said the majority of NCDs patients are not aware until when the diseases became irreversible. He urged the general public to imbibe the habit of routine medical checkup for early detection and treatment.

He said that the purpose of the multisectoral action plan meeting is to ensure that sectoral policies and jointly develop with a view of controlling NCDs in Nigeria.

The World Health Organization Country Representative, Dr. Wondi Alemu represented by Dr. Rex Mpazanje said that in 2011 UN High level meeting was recognized that the rising prevalence of NCDs worldwide can be largely prevented and control through collective and multisectoral action by all member states and other relevant stakeholders at local, nation, regional and global levels.

He commended the Federal Government of Nigeria and the stakeholders for the steps taken for the multisectoral plan and the high level forum which are in line with the multisectoral approach advocate by World Health Organizations.

Also speaking the UNFAO Dr. Mawuli Sablah said that use of saturated fat, high intake of sugar and salt as well as poor physical exercises are some of the risk factors of Non Communicable diseases. He called on all and sundry to cultivate a good healthy living standard.

At the end of the meeting the relevant stakeholders would sign the Multisactoral Action Plan Document which would clearly spelt out commitment of every stakeholder. The Multisectoral Action Plan would serve from 2019 -2023