Roundup: WHO decries surge in non-communicable diseases in Africa

The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which has been gradually increasing over the past decade, will likely surpass the toll of sickness and death from infectious diseases in Africa by 2030, a World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report released on Tuesday.

The report that was done in 32 countries in the continent shows that most adults in Africa have at least one risk factor that increases their chances of developing a life threatening heart disease, cancer, type two diabetes and chronic obstructive lung disease.

"These life threatening diseases are robbing people and families of those who otherwise should be enjoying their most productive years and place a significant hardship on the region," WHO's Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said.

Moeti observed that it is unfortunate that in recent years, much of the world's attention and resources have been directed toward the immediate threat posed by emerging Zika and Ebola viruses.

According to the report, NCDs are mainly caused by heavy reliance on tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, poor diet and low levels of physical activity.

In half of the African countries surveyed, one-quarter of adults had at least three of these risk factors, raising the probability that they will become ill with one or more of these conditions during the course of their lives.

The report says that the prevalence of hypertension in the African region is the highest worldwide, affecting an estimated 46 percent of adults.

"In half of the countries in the African region, at least one in three adults was found to be hypertensive," the report notes.

The Acting Director of WHO's NCD cluster Abdikamal Alisalad noted that the high rates of hypertension are particularly worrisome, as hypertension is a silent killer, with most people unaware of their condition until it is too late.

"High blood pressure can damage the heart, leading to heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and fatty buildup in the arteries, causing them to harden. It also can contribute to stroke, kidney damage and vision loss, among other things," he said.

According to Alisalad, hypertension can be successfully treated through lifestyle changes and medication hence the need for populations to take their health seriously.

According to the report, tobacco use is one of the most serious health risks globally, causing more than 70 percent of lung cancers, 40 percent of chronic lung diseases and 10 percent cardiovascular diseases.

In the African region, the prevalence of daily tobacco use among adults ranged from five percent to 26 percent.

Globally, the report revealed that people's failure to eat enough fruits and vegetables accounts for about 14 percent of deaths from gastrointestinal cancer and about 10 percent of deaths from ischemic heart disease and stroke.

While the consequences of such unhealthy diets are greatest in other WHO regions, Sub-Saharan Africa paradoxically is the only WHO region suffering from the double burden of under nutrition and obesity. Endit