Govt wary as NCDs march on
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Wednesday March 9, 2016 17:51
Makgato told Parliament recently that non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes were increasing in Botswana. She said these conditions were driven by risky lifestyle choices such as unhealthy diets, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption and physical inactivity.
“The burden of NCDs such as cardiovascular, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases still remains a concern in Botswana,” she said, when presenting her ministry’s 2016/17 budget to legislators. “In fact, NCDs now constitute an epidemic whose negative impact will surpass that of HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria combined.”
Makgato further indicated that the results of the 2014 STEPwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS) Survey show that 18 percent of people aged 15-69 years are current smokers; 95 percent do not eat fruits and vegetables accordingly; 20 percent do not engage in sufficient physical activity and 31 percent are obese.
In terms of binge drinking, the results were however a significant improvement from 2007 when the percentage of binge drinkers across both sexes was 54 percent. The 2014 STEPS survey pegged the figure at 19 percent.
Makgato said there was lack of awareness of NCDs, as a significant number of Batswana experienced signs and symptoms without knowing what to do.
“There is low individual ownership to take health as one’s responsibility as demonstrated by low uptake of screening services, low uptake of health programmes, poor health-seeking behaviours and poor health outcomes,” she said. Makgato said her ministry reviewed its national NCDs 2011-2016 strategy and has come up with a draft multi-sectoral NCDs strategy with indicators and targets in alignment with the World Health Organisation (WHO) global action plan for NCDs 2013-2020.
She indicated that campaigns such as “Itse Mabele A Gago” have been launched but a lot more work is needed to raise awareness on NCDs.
Makgato also noted the increasing complaints and compromised quality of services in some public health facilities due to human capital challenges, critical shortages of resources, dilapidated health infrastructure and poor management of facilities.