ADDIS ABABA-The existence of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) has reached on the alarming stage in Ethiopia both in rural and urban areas, the Ethiopian Non Communicable Disease and Injuries (NCDI) commission announced.
Speaking to The Ethiopian Herald after the release of the latest NCDI’s report , Health State Minister Dr. Lia Tadese said that her ministry has doing its level best in terms of creating awareness on NCDs in collaboration with the public, concerning stakeholders and government for the last twenty years.
Fast urbanization, the change of living style and eating and others are main causes for the NCDs in Ethiopia, she noted.
As to her, citizens need to do physical exercise , eat a nutrient food and avoid alcoholic beverages to prevent NCDs.
The Commission Chairperson Professor Abraham Haileamlak told The Ethiopian Herald that NCDs are at the alarming stage due to lack of awareness and misconception about the magnitude of the problem here in Ethiopia.
“Maintaining a healthy weight, adopting physically active lifestyle, stopping tobacco use, avoiding smoke and limiting alcohol consumption will be the solution for the problems.”
Professor Abraham further urged the public to maintain healthy diet with an emphasis on plant source such as fruit, vegetables and grain is important.
As way forward establishing a national multi-sectoral committee on NCDs chaired by higher officials to guide and organize NCDs prevention and control is a must, he said
“Moreover, multi-sectoral steering committees need also to be established at all levels of the government apart from implementing public health policies for NCDs prevention and control through comprehensive legislation and enforcement of national laws and regulations.”
He called on the government to allocate an increased percentage of gains from economic growth to health, move governmental spending on health rapidly, mobilize additional resources and the like.
NCDs namely cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and diabetic account 60 percent of all global deaths. According to NCD alliance, 80 percent of deaths caused by NCDs occur in developing countries, by receive just 2.3 percent of international development assistance for health, it was learnt.
Herald December 15/2018
