Spotlight on lifestyle diseases

The two-day meeting on 19 and 20 September 2011, is expected to address the prevention and control of NCDs worldwide, with a particular focus on developmental and other challenges and social and economic impacts, particularly for developing countries.

The UN NCD conference was informed by a resolution in one of the previous UN General Assembly meetings.

Health Deputy Minister, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa has been chosen to lead a conference plenary session focusing on three topics including:

• The rising incidence, development and challenges and social and economic impact of NCDs and their risks
  
• Strengthening the national capacities, as well as appropriate policies to address prevention and control of NCDs and
  
• Fostering international cooperation as well as co-ordination to address NCDs.

NCDs are assuming alarming proportions in South Africa, account for a higher number of deaths and therefore increase the diseases burden in the country.

Currently South Africa is rated three times higher than developed countries according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the burden of NCDs, which puts burden on the health system of the country.

Globally, the NCDs diseases were responsible for 36 million of the 57 million deaths in 2008, fuelled by bad diet, alcohol and smoking.

The promotion of healthy lifestyles has been prioritised as one the critical programmes that needed to be advocated robustly throughout the country among members of the community.

In preparation for the UN NCD Conference, the Department of Health last week held a two-day national NCD Summit, which provided the department a unique platform for relevant government departments, private sector, and research, professional, statutory, academic and civil society to collectively:

• Ensure that South Africa is united and well prepared for the High Level United Nations General Assembly Summit on NCDs
  
• Provide analysis of the current situation with regard to NCDs in South Africa and propose solutions on how to reduce incidence and prevalence through comprehensive and intersectoral interventions
  
• Assist in the realization of the Negotiated Service Delivery Agreement signed by the Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi together with other ministers to increase life expectancy.
  
• Agree on strategies and targets to be reached in SA to improve the situation regarding non-communicable diseases through a declaration to be agreed to by all participants.