Health data in Ethiopia indicated that malaria and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) caused severe health impacts among the society in the past few years. Lack of access to health services, poor health infrastructure, and lower health professionals countrywide have exacerbated the problem. Mainly, the rural part of the country was highly exposed to malaria and other diseases which resulted in deaths for many people.
Following this, the government and other private actors have also been working strenuously in the health sector to improve the services thereby saving the lives of many people. The Health Development and Anti Malaria Association (HDAMA) is one among the other private health associations that has done commendable activities in the health sector by closely working with the Ministry of Health.
Recently, the Association marked its silver jubilee with the presences of its members, volunteers, and media professionals. On the occasion, HDAMA Executive Director Abebe Mihrete (PhD) said that in the past 25 years, the Association saved hundreds of thousands lives, conducted enormous disease prevention activities, and helped to improve societal life through its health development projects.
“The Association’s effective health services gained recognition among the society, government, local and international donor partners. Implementing strong tobacco control in Ethiopia is among the fruits of Association’s effective public mobilization efforts and policy advocacy works,” he said.
Currently, the Association is striving to bring about tangible progress in the health sector through controlling HIV and AIDS, preventing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), improving maternal and children health and introducing best environmental protection mechanisms.
Accordingly, the Association works closely with pertinent stakeholders; including the government, vulnerable society, and the underserved communities among others to address the health sector challenges and provide successive healthcare services.
Conflicts outbreak here and there, climate change and the like are predicted to exacerbate the outbreak of malaria epidemic in various parts of the country, he noted. The Executive Director calls upon concerned bodies and the media to fulfill its social responsibilities through disseminating early precautions and raising the awareness of the public.
Deputy Executive Director of HDAMA Aklilu Getnent said that the Association has been fulfilling its responsibilities of cultivating a healthy society throughout its journey of 25 years. Prevention of malaria, HIV and AIDS, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), tobacco control, among others are among the core activities of the Association, he seconded Abebe’s view.
As to him, creating successive awareness on the impacts of NCDs, unhealthy diet, malaria, HIV and AIDS, among others should be the priority of the government and other stakeholders to cultivate a productive and healthy society. The number of people dying from NCDs is increasing alarmingly in Ethiopia.
Lack of a healthy diet, improper consumption of factory-processed foods, physical inactivity, and poor economic performance has led to the spread of NCDs. The Association will continue working together with the media institutions towards promoting a healthy society free of NCDs, he noted.
“NCDs are the leading cause of mortality worldwide and a serious public health threat to developing countries like Ethiopia. Lack of response to NCDs, detection, screening, and treatment the health facilities are not capable of conducting palliative care to the prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases. Due to these limitations, it is observed that many people are affected by these diseases and die,” he stated.
The major aggravating factor is the frequent consumption of an unhealthy diet; the harmful use of alcohol; tobacco use and lack of physical activities. The recently observed use of industrially processed foods and fast foods in big towns is another risk factor for Non-Communicable Diseases. The chemicals added to these foods and drinks for preservation and to bring flavor or tone, as well as a large amount of sugar, salt, and saturated fat content, can cause NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, diabetes, and cancer.
Ministry of Health NCD Team Leader Mussie Gebremichael (MD) said that NCDs are diseases that are not directly transmissible from person to person, often chronic conditions, require long term follow up, and most can be controlled but often are not curable.
Regarding the burden of dietary risk factors in Ethiopia, the health expert underscored that dietary behavior contributes significantly to the NCD burden in the country. Uunhealthy diet, a key NCDs risk factor, has increased by 17.9 percent between 2009 and 2019. It is currently one of the most leading risk factors for NCDs in Ethiopia causing about 32,362 deaths annually. NCDs caused 271 290 deaths in 2019 and CVDs accounted for 98,378 deaths (36 percent of all NCD deaths) in 2019.
In total, dietary risk factors were responsible for about 6 percent of deaths and 2 percent of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Excess diets high in sodium were responsible for 1.43 percent of deaths in Ethiopia.
Moreover, NCDs investment case report estimated that tackling NCDs comprehensively in Ethiopia would prevent almost 1.5 million premature deaths over 15 years. In addition, these interventions prevent disabilities such as those caused by strokes.
Accordingly, the indirect economic losses due to NCDs were modeled from increased absenteeism, reduced capacity at work and losses from premature death and calculated by human capital method. The total costs of premature death were estimated to be 10.8 billion Birr.
The indirect economic losses are much higher than the direct losses. Estimated Government expenditure on the four main NCDs is already 4.4 billion Birr and additional losses to the economy from absenteeism, reduced capacity at work and premature death amount to 26.9 billion Birr due to the four main types of NCDs, namely cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
Health, Development and Anti-Malaria Association (HDAMA) is a Civil Society Organization which was first established on August 23, 1998, by 18 Volunteers who were deeply concerned about the increasing problem of malaria and its high morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia.
BY TEWODROS KASSA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 2023
