Key facts
- Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 74% of all deaths globally.
- Each year, 17 million people die from a NCD before age 70; 86% of these premature deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
- Of all NCD deaths, 77% are in low- and middle-income countries.
- Cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, or 17.9 million people annually, followed by cancers (9.3 million), chronic respiratory diseases (4.1 million), and diabetes (2.0 million including kidney disease deaths caused by diabetes).
- These four groups of diseases account for over 80% of all premature NCD deaths.
- Tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets all increase the risk of dying from an NCD.
- Detection, screening and treatment of NCDs, as well as palliative care, are key components of the response to NCDs.
Zanzibar — President Samia Suluhu Hassan has won praise from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for being among global leaders, who have shown commitment in addressing appalling trend of ‘Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
According to the WHO, such NCDs include heart diseases, strokes, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease which are responsible for 17 million premature deaths every year, where 86 per cent of the deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
In Tanzania statistics shown in the 1980s, only five people out of 100 died of NCDs related cases, but recently the number has risen, where 30 up to 40 people out of 100 are said to be dying of NCD related complications.
The Acting WHO Country Representative, Dr Zabulon Yoti commended the president during the launch of ‘NCDs Journalism fellowship’ held in Dar es Salaam, yesterday.
He said President Samia has showed her commitment to fight the diseases during the World NCDs Congress 2022 held recently in the United States with some leaders taking part virtually.
Dr Yoti also commended the Ministry of Health for coordinating the just concluded National NCDs Week in Mwanza Region, noting that the launch of the fellowship programme has come timely.
“I commend the Tanzanian government for being the only country in the African Region and among the six (6) countries championing this initiative – the other 5 countries are China, Colombia, India, Jordan and USA,” he said.
He detailed that, NCDs kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 74% of all deaths globally with cardiovascular diseases accounting for most NCD deaths, or 17.9 million people annually, followed by cancers (9.3 million), chronic respiratory diseases (4.1 million), and diabetes (2.0 million including kidney disease deaths caused by diabetes).
“These statistics are alarming, but the good news is that we know how to prevent and manage these diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted that action on NCDs is urgent and critical to protect our people from the death and disability wrought by NCDs,” he said.
Dr Yoti further said that journalists have a great role to play in the fight against the diseases especially raising public awareness of the problem and how to avoid the risk factors.
“There is a number of factors which led to lack of awareness about the NCDs but media can change people’s attitudes towards the diseases … The fellowship programme being launched today was designed to address this problem and improve the quality and quantity of media coverage on key NCD issues,” he said.
He added that responsible health reporting demonstrates the power of media in bringing about policy/legislative change and ultimately behaviour change.
Mr Yoti underlined that with support from the editors, “We are confident that stories produced from this programme will contribute to increased public awareness on key NCD issues and amplify the advocacy voice in promoting key evidence-based policy options and legislative reforms, which are needed to enable reduction of the modifiable risk factors of NCDs.”
The risk factors include use of tobacco use; harmful use of alcohol; physical inactivity and consumption of unhealthy diets among others with the Assistant Director, NCD Programme in the Ministry of Health, Dr James Charles Kiologwe encouraging journalists to be more informed in the community on the NCDs problems and how to avoid them.
Equally, he thanked WHO for continued support to Tanzania, urging Journalists to use the opportunity to help members of the public know their health status, adding that the WHO has reiterated its commitment to continue working with the government and partners to accelerate coordinated and multisectoral action needed to prevent and control NCDs in the country.
Source: allafrica.com
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Tanzania: Samia Hands Over NBC’s 354m/ – Crop Insurance Compensation to Farmers Affected By Hailstorms
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has handed over a cheque of 354m/- from the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) as compensation to tobacco farmers, who were affected by hailstorms during the previous farming season in various regions across the country.
Handing over the cheque in Dodoma, the compensation is part of the crop insurance service provided by NBC in collaboration with the National Insurance Corporation (NIC).
Furthermore, President Samia has also handed over health insurance coverage to members of the Lindi Mwambao Cooperative Union based in Lindi Region, through the Farmers’ Health Insurance service provided by the bank in partnership with Assurance Insurance Company.
While visiting the bank’s pavilion at the Nanenane Agricultural Exhibition and being received and briefed by the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Theobald Sabi, she said: “This crop insurance is one of the crucial solutions in ensuring farmers have a reliable income, without fear of challenges such as natural disasters, including hailstorms.
“I call upon all farmers in the country to make the best use of this important opportunity by accessing these kinds of insurance services. I also highly commend NBC and all the stakeholders participating in this programme.”
Elaborating further on the crop insurance service, the Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, stated that it will help to recover the loss farmers incurred, especially in various calamities beyond their control.
Citing them as floods, fires, and hailstorms, which have significantly affected the well-being of farmers and caused some to be reluctant to invest in the crucial sector, Mr Bashe added: “However, our President, this step by NBC is just the beginning, as this is the second year since they started offering this service, and the results are already visible.
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“As the government, we promise to continue supporting the wider implementation of this service, with the goal of ensuring that this crop insurance service reaches more farmers.”
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On his part, Mr Sabi said that the farmers who benefited from the compensations are from 23 primary cooperative unions in the regions of Shinyanga, Geita, Tabora, Mbeya, Katavi, and Kigoma.
He added: “In addition to these insurance services, as a bank, through this exhibition, we have continued with our programme of providing financial education and various banking opportunities to farmers, alongside offering them various loans, including loans for agricultural equipment, particularly tractors, to eligible farmers.:
At the NBC booth, President Samia also had the opportunity to be briefed on the various services offered by the bank to the farmers namely crop insurance and health insurance services.
There, the President had the chance to speak with some of the beneficiaries of the services, including the Vice-Chairman of the Lindi Mwambao Primary Cooperative Union, Mr. Hassan Mnumbe, whose union has been provided with a health insurance card from the bank.
Source: allafrica.com
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