Govt wary as NCDs march on
Wednesday, March 09, 2016
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.”
The Ministry of Agriculture, local producers, retailers, and industry associations must work together to overcome the obstacles hindering vegetable production and distribution.This collaborative approach is essential to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of vegetables in the market.Firstly, the Ministry of Agriculture should provide support and guidance to local farmers to enhance their productivity and efficiency. This could...