NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES – A race against time
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NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES – A race against time
Non-Communicable Diseases – A race against time Debbie Bradshaw,1 Krisela Steyn,2 Naomi Levitt,2 and Beatrice Nojilana1 1. Burden of Disease Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council 2. Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town South Africa faces a race against time to reduce the risk factor profile and rapidly improve the detection and management of the NCDs in those who already have these conditions. With the exception of tobacco use, South African data shows that the pattern of risk factors for NCDs has deteriorated substantially during the last two decades, and that detection, management and outcomes of care for those with NCDs are still non-optimal.1 The reduction in smoking can be ascribed to the effective comprehensive tobacco why is the un holding a summit on non-communicable disease in September 2011? Global health agencies have recognized the rising threat of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) as a major contributor to preventable disease and premature mortality in low and middle-income countries. They have emphasized that NCDs are not addressed in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and that they should be, if the objectives of the MDG are to be achieved. These activities have culminated in the United Nations (UN) resolution on the 13 May 2010 calling for a UN Head of State Summit on NCDs in September 2011.3 This special session will place NCDs firmly on the global development agenda, secure the commitment of Heads of State to focus governments’ efforts to address the common risk factors and reverse the epidemic, mobilize the international community to take action, and send a clear message to donors and funders to significantly support funding for NCDs. non-communicable diseases Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are chronic medical conditions or diseases which are non-infectious. Common examples include stroke, heart attacks, diabetes, cancer, asthma and depression. Some of the major NCDs are preceded by unhealthy behaviours followed by the emergence of legislation that has been promulgated and amended since the early 1990s,2 while little attention has been focused on other risk factors associated with NCDs as well as improving management of NCDs. South Africa needs to support the UN Summit on NCDs and take bold steps to prevent and control NCDs. A national policy and strategy must be developed incorporating population wide interventions. The health system must be strengthened to manage NCDs and their risk factors. metabolic risk factors and disease. The risk factors associated with NCDs are overweight and obesity, raised blood pressure, increased blood glucose levels and non-optimal blood cholesterol levels (particularly raised LDL cholesterol). Most of these risk factors are considered modifiable through changes in behaviours or medications. The key behaviours that would reduce risk factors for NCDs are eating a healthy diet, participating in regular physical activity, not using tobacco, and avoiding harmful use of alcohol.4 what is the extent of ncds in south africa? South Africa is experiencing a quadruple burden of disease.5 Not only is there an AIDS pandemic that set in during the 1990’s, and high rates of injury and other infectious diseases, but there is also a rising tide of NCDs affecting the quality of life and increasing health-care expenses both at a personal level and at a country level. NCDs affect large numbers of the working-age population, impacting on the workforce and productivity of the country. The major NCDs in South Africa are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and mental illness.1 Moreover, national surveillance suggests that these patterns of unhealthy lifestyle are already present in our children and youth.5,6 These NCD risk factors must be addressed urgently to reduce the NCD burden. asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) mental illness Asthma is the commonest chronic disease in children, affecting up to 13% the course of their lifetime. Mental illness, however, will not be considered by before the age of 14 years and occurs in more than 7% of adults. Unlike asthma, the up-coming UN Summit for NCDs as it is focussed on the common conditions in which modification of risk factors is difficult, COPD is a preventable disease which have shared risk factors. Internationally, 1 in 4 people suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder during resulting chiefly from exposure to tobacco smoke (both active and passive The South African Stress and Health (SASH) survey found that 16.5% of South smoking), domestic and industrial atmospheric pollution, with the high rates of Africans reported having suffered from a common mental disorder in the last TB in South Africa playing a part. It is responsible for considerable disability and year.7 There is evidence that: depression can be effectively treated with low- mortality in South Africa. There is an urgent need to increase public awareness cost antidepressants or psychotherapy; antipsychotic drugs are cost effective about this disease and reduce risk factors. interventions for people with schizophrenia; hazardous and harmful alcohol use can be effectively dealt with by providing brief interventions by trained primary-care workers; and for adults and children with chronic mental disabilities, community-based rehabilitative models provide low-cost care.8 what are the patterns of tobacco and Tobacco use (Daily) harmful alcohol60use, Women diet intake and physical inactivity? Tobacco use (Daily) Overweight and obesity (BMI ≥25) 0 SADHS 11 2003 1998 SADHS 10 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Age group Hazardous/harmful alcohol use (Audit ≥8) Age group 1998 SADHS 10 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Age group 65+ Tobacco Tobaccouse use(Daily) (Daily) 17 9 17 23 5 21 17 45 Hazardous/harmful alcohol use (Audit ≥8) 44 45 44 41 38 38 40 40 20 17 20 20 17 41 41 41 17 14 21 20 20 21 14 11 8 20 17 4 17 40 40 20 35 35 Women 303131 25 25 80 40 40 20 20 10 20 3 3 2 15 1513 13 99 6 6 3 3 535 377 4 2 15 1512 12 99 13 13 77 6 6 2 2 1 14 14 00 00 0 11 15-24 25-34 35-44 15-24 45-54 65+ 9 15-24 45-54 25-34 55-64 35-44 45-54 45-54 55-64 55-64 65+ 65+ 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 55-6415-19 65+20-24 25-34 35-44 5-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-5425-34 55-6435-44 65+ 10 8 Age Age 5 Agegroup group Agegroup group Age Age group 4 group 4 3 3 1 2 3 3 2 3 3 80 40 Women 2008 SABSSM 13 100 60 20 2 2 Percentage Percentage 42 4 11 10 17 17 17 17 39 78 99 5560 2210 10 20 17 52 17 20 20 70 60 20 60 52 42 12 4 4 7 88 24 15 52 50 44 38 34 10 10 24 71 63 50 2 1 2 44 33 33 52 44 22 33 33 33 33 22 22 1 34 0 38 00 39 400 0 5-24 25-34 35-44 15-19 45-54 20-24 55-64 65+35-44 45-54 55-64 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 65+ 15-19 20-24 65+ 24 24 22 15-1955-64 20-24 25-34 25-34 35-44 35-44 45-54 45-54 55-64 55-64 15-19 20-2425-34 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ 20 15 Age group Age group Age Age 11 10 Agegroup group Agegroup group 20 7 12 0 NIDS 171212 13 13 2008 2005 SABSSM 2008 SABSSM SADHS 2008 SABSSM 2005 SABSSM 5-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 1998 55-64 65+ 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Diabetes Town Ekhasi (Township) Age group(>11.1 mmol/l ) Cape Age group Hypertension (BP ≥ 140/90 or BPmeds) Hypertension (BP ≥ 140/90 or BPmeds) 10 Women Men Tobacco use: About 35% of adult men and 10% of adult women Women Men 1998 Women 50 2008 NIDS 100 SADHS 100 100 100 11 78 Diabetes (>11.1 mmol/l ) Cape Town Ekhasi (Township) smoke tobacco. The promulgation of comprehensive tobacco 78 40 80 80 80 35 80 70 71 70 71 29 63 29 60 60 Women 63 60 60 30 control legislation has 5052resulted in the in tobacco use, 60 60 60 52 24 60 reduction 52 50 52 50 21 44 17 17 42 44 39 42 20 38 39 34 38 34 40 particularly for men above Behaviour Survey 40 40 25 years. The 40 14 40 14 Youth Risk 35 1122 10 10 24 8 24 2924 24 20 22 29 20 15 10 20 15 6 20 30 5 20 20 (YRBS) found that 21% of grade 8-11 learners smoke tobacco with no 4 11 12 10 11 10 2 2 7 12 24 44 21 7 17 17 00 6200 7 00 change between 2002 and 2008 indicating that further efforts to 14 14 45-54 55-64 65+ 35-44 45-54 15-2455-64 25-34 65+ 35-44 45-54 55-6425-34 65+ 15-24 25-34 65+ 35-44 15-24 25-34 35-44 35-44 45-54 45-54 55-64 55-64 65+ 65+ 10 8 15-2410 25-34 1135-44 45-54 55-64 10 Age group Age group Age group 6 Age group 5 Age group reduce tobacco use in young people are needed. Age group 4 2 2 25-34 5 1990 18 65+ 0 2009 19 10 1998 1998SADHS SADHS 25-34 10 35-44 17 17 2008 2008NIDS NIDS 45-54 55-64 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 Harmful alcohol use: About 16% of adult men 65+ report LDL blood cholestrol (>3 mmol/l(>11.1 ) Capemmol/l Town Ekhasi Age group Age group Diabetes ))Cape Town Ekhasi Diabetes (>11.1 mmol/l Cape(Township) Town Ekhasi(Township) (Township) hazardous/ harmful use of alcohol with an increaseWomen in recent years. Limited Women en Men Women Men 80 1990 2009 50 50 50 50 66 policy action (e.g. increasing excise tax on alcohol) has not yet 63 LDL blood cholestrol (>3 mmol/l ) Cape Town Ekhasi (Township) 40 40 40 40 60 35 35 51 resulted in any improvements and further actions are needed. 29 29 Women en 29 29 42 30 42 40 80 30 3930 30 24 40 24 33 21 66 21 These should32include the of32 a63 comprehensive 29 17 17 17 promulgation 17 alcohol 20 20 20 20 22 14 14 60 15 15 14 14 20 51 11 10 10 11 8 10 10 strategy, including on advertising and decreasing 8 use (Daily) restrictions10 10control 10 10 10 42 10 6Tobacco 42 55 6 40 44 55 39 2 22 40 Women 14 322 33 en 29 00 32 availability. 00 600 18 Men Men 80 80 Percentage Percentage 39 39 40 40 1998 SADHS 10 29 29 Percentage Percentage 0 51 51 40 40 40 40 11 32 32 2003 SADHS 21 17 20 17 17 17 14 14 11 9 8 Percentage 30 35-44 45-54 35-44 45-54 Age Agegroup group 20 25-34 25-34 23 Women Women 80 80 0 -19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Age group 2005 SABSSM 12 1 2 3 3 2 4 25-34 25-34 100 3 3 3 3 2 2 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 Age group 60 52 42 20 11 10 22 39 Women 80 Percentage 70 60 71 63 60 50 34 40 20 12 15 24 24 67 64 67 67 38 52 44 78.2 78.2 77 81.9 81.9 62 77 64 56 62 50 35-44 45-54 1992 1997 1992 1997 Age group 25-34 100 Women 100 35-44 55-64 65+ 2002 2002 Year Year 2007 2007 11 45-54 55-64 2003 Physical inactivity Physical inactivitySADHS SADHS 2003 11 65+ Age group Women Women Age group Overweight and obesity (BMI ≥25) 100 Men 100 80 Women 80 60 3841 40 0 42 42 35-44 45-54 35-44 45-54 Age Agegroup group 2008 SABSSM 13 78 69 Women 45 50 43 51 42 44 29 31 11 13 70 72 56 58 60 40 65+ 1998 SADHS 10 55-64 55-64 72 75 72 72 72 60 38 30 20 0 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 Age group 32 32 Hypertension (BP ≥ 140/90 or BPmeds) n 67 50 00 25-34 22 22 10 4 56 6471.6 what are the trends in modifiable ncd risk factors? 20 42 42 19 2009 2009 19 20 1990 1990 20 40 40 64 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Age group 2008 NIDS 17 Fat supply quantity (FAO) women have extremely Overweight and obesity: South African 100 high levels of overweight and obesity. More than 70% of 81.9 women 78.2 80 71.6 69.0 old are overweight above 35 years or obese.17 In the past 10 years, 60 there has been a significant increase among men and more than 45%40of those above 35 years are overweight or obese.10,17 Body 20 weight is considered normal when the body mass index (BMI, 0 calculated by dividing weight by height squared) is between 18 and 1992 1997 2002 2007 25 kg/m2. A BMI between 25 and 30 Yearis considered overweight and that of 30 or above Physical is obese. Obesity is associated with diabetes, inactivity SADHS 2003 11 100 hypertension and other metabolic abnormalities that predisposes to 77 NCDs. 80 An improved low calorie diet and regular physical activity is 69 67 67 64 64 62 56 required to reverse this trend. 60 16 00 Women 55-64 55-64 60 6047 Men Men 66 66 63 63 65+ 33 33 69.0 69.0 7 80 80 7 6 15 15 20 20 10 10 00 9 65+ 65+ 13 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 60 60 Age group 15 15 20 20Hazardous/harmful 10 alcohol use (Audit ≥8) 10 n 12 17 2008 2008NIDS NIDS 17 69 Physical inactivity: South Africa has high levels6464of physical inactivity 67 69 67 67 67 64 64 56 56 60 52 50 52 – 48% of adult men60and 63% of adult women were categorised as 50 47 47 36 36 40 40 inactive.11 Women have higher levels of physical inactivity than men. The YRBS observed 2020 that in the week before the survey, about 40% of school learners had 0participated in insufficient physical activity, with 0 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 7 no change between 20026 and 2008. Age group Percentage 9 6 7 2009519 1990 20 5-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ 60 60 Age group 13 15-24 15-24 25-34 25-34 35-44 35-44 45-54 45-54 55-6 55-6 Age Agegroup group 2007 Year g/capita/day 25-34 0 21 Percentage Percentage 38 22 25-34 35-44 45-54 35-44 55-6445-54 35-44 45-54 55-64 45-54 15 51 15 25-34 25-34 35-44 65+ 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 55-64 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 55-64 65+ 20 10 Age group 44 Age group Age Age Agegroup group Agegroup group 41 41 40 40 35 0 31 18 19 2009 191990 1990 20 19 1990 18 35-442009 200945-54 25-34 55-64 35-44 45-54 55-64 25 Cape Town Age group Age group LDL 20 (>3 LDLblood bloodcholestrol cholestrol (>3mmol/l mmol/l))15 Cape TownEkhasi Ekhasi(Township) (Township) 15 Percentage 45 10 00 11 Physical inactivity SADHS 2003 16 1997 2002quantity Fat Fatsupply supply quantity(FAO) (FAO) 162007 20 2047 36 72 7272 7 20 20 12,13 19 PercentagePercentage Percentage Percentage 25-34 52 75 75 72 72 81.9 38 38 30 30 40 40 Percentage Percentage 5 Percentage Percentage PercentagePercentage Percentage Percentage en 36 Men 17 10 Percentage en 52 20 Men 0 4 44 42 44 42 78.2 71.6 11 80 inactivity SADHS 2003 80 Physical 69 71.6 60 20 40 0 41 38 3841 72 70 70 72 58 56 56 58 60 60 15-24 15-24 25-34 25-34 35-44 35-44 45-54 45-54 55-64 55-64 65+ 65+ Age Agegroup group 1997 2002 Year 10 1998 1998SADHS SADHS 10 100 100 100 60 80 40 51 51 43 43 50 50 45 45 81.9 80 80 13 11 11 13 1992 80 63 20 20 Women 60 17 100 17 14 14 14 14 40 1111 80 20 20 1992 100 71 Percentage Percentage 20 20 en 21 21 60 PercentagePercentage 23 60 31 29 29 31 0 Women Women 30 30 78 Hypertension (BP ≥ 140/90 80 or BPmeds) 2370 40 40 00 20 16 Fat supply 71.6 quantity (FAO) 60 60 40 0 PercentagePercentage Men Men 2005 SABSSM 12 30 30 69.0 Women Women 100 100 2008 NIDS 17 78.2 80 80 69.0 100 60 11 10 10 2003 1998 0 SADHS 2003SADHS SADHS 11 1998 SADHS 2008 SABSSM 13 2005 SABSSM 12 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 5-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Hypertension (BPHazardous/harmful ≥ 140/90 or BPmeds) Age use group Age group alcohol Hazardous/harmful alcohol use(Audit (Audit≥8) ≥8) en Men Men 1998 SADHS 10 100 100 100 Percentage Percentage Percentage Percentage en 21 PercentagePercentage 23 Women Women 60 60 2003Women SADHS 11 30 51 51 g/capita/day g/capita/day Men Men 1998 SADHS 10 60 60 en 2008 NIDS 17 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Age group Overweight (BMI Overweight andobesity obesity (BMI≥25) ≥25) Fat supply quantity (FAO) 16 and Percentage Percentage 20 21 15-24 PercentagePercentage 20 21 Percentage 40 Percentage Percentage 41 40 Women South Africa has information that can be used to track 35 considerable 31 60 25 51 the prevalence of the behaviours and risk factors for NCDs among adults 45 44 20 15 15 41 41 40 38 13 13 12 9 9 6show the information 35 15 years and 31older. These40 graphs for the latest 7 6 5 7 25 0 available year. They also contrast the prevalence to an earlier year for each 45-54 55-64 65+ 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ 20 15-24 25-34 35-44 15 15 13 13 12 9 Age group group The prevalence for men 9 age Age group. and women are shown separately. 6 7 6 5 7 Men g/capita/day g/capita/day 44 41 38 PercentagePercentage 51 45 Unhealthy diet: South Africans are increasingly eating a typical Women Men 100 100 Western diet comprising increased calorie intake, fat (particularly 75 Overweight and obesity (BMI ≥25) 80 80 72 72 72 72 72 saturated fat), animal protein and sugar, but a 70lower intake of 60 Women 56 58 Men 60 60 15 100 100 51 50 unrefined carbohydrate and fibre. There is38 low intake of fruit and 45 43 42 44 3841 40 75 40 80 30 15 29 31 72 72 72 72 70 72 vegetables and salt intake has also been80 increasing over this period. 58 60 20 20 56 60 60 11 13 51 50 Data from the 38Food Organisation show a steady 45 and 43 Agriculture 42 44 41 38 400 400 30 15-24 25-34 65+ 29 31 35-44 45-54 55-64 15-24 25-34 35-44 55-64 65+ increase in the amount of fat supply in the country, 45-54 indicative of 20 20 11 13 Age group Age group 16 this0 change. 0 PercentagePercentage Men 52 40 36 47 50 62 62 65+ 65 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 Age group 2008 SABSSM 13 10 1998 1998 SADHS SADHS 10 Hypertension (BP ≥ 140/90 or BPmeds) 70 52 42 40 4 11 39 22 20 20 0 60 60 60 80 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 Age group 0 65+ 52 50 34 40 20 10 71 63 60 15 12 7 24 44 38 24 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 Age group 100 30 30 20 20 10 10 00 65+ 25-34 25-34 35-44 35-44 Diabetes (>11.1 mmol/l ) Cape Town Ekhasi (Township) 60 51 40 20 40 39 32 29 15 10 10 0 Percentage Percentage 80 20 66 63 42 40 33 15 42 32 22 0 25-34 35-44 45-54 Age group 55-64 1990 20 25-34 10 10 35-44 45-54 Age group 11 11 20 45-54 45-540 55-64 55-64 Age Age group group 65+ 65+ 55-64 2009 19 10 10 00 25-34 18 Women 1990 1990 18 60 60 56 50 6735 35 67 64 17 17 14 14 10 10 4 55 4 25-34 25-34 21 21 24 24 29 29 39 39 40 40 20 20 00 29 29 10 10 25-34 25-34 10 10 32 32 40 40 35-44 35-44 45-54 45-54 55-64 55-64 35-44 Age 45-54 Age group group 65+ 65+ 55-64 Age group 19 2009 2009 19 15 15 35-44 45-54 35-44 45-54 Age Age group group 20 20 55-64 55-64 00 66 66 63 63 40 40 42 42 33 33 15 15 25-34 25-34 22 22 32 32 35-44 45-54 35-44 45-54 Age Age group group 42 42 55-64 55-64 19 2009 2009 19 Diabetes and high blood cholesterol: Although there are no national data on the trends, there is evidence of increases in the prevalence of diabetes and raised LDL blood cholesterol among urban Africans in Cape Town.18-20 The increasing predisposing factors of unhealthy diets, lack of regular physical activity resulting in overweight and obesity, inevitably contribute to the rising prevalence of diabetes and high blood cholesterol. Similarly to hypertension, these conditions are poorly diagnosed and inadequately treated. The diabetes trend data are based on 2-hour post oral glucose tolerance tests using a cut-off of 11.1mmol/l. the health sector response to ncds • Policy and programmes South Africa has recognised the importance of NCDs and some progress has been made. In particular, South Africa has been a global leader in adopting legislation for tobacco control, with some signs of an effect. Since 1994, alcohol policy development has taken place in a piecemeal fashion, but progress has been made in several areas including reducing allowable blood alcohol levels in drivers, requiring warning levels on alcohol containers, increasing excise taxes on alcohol products and imposing greater controls on alcohol packaging.21 The Directorate for Chronic Diseases, Disability and Geriatrics Unit was instituted in 1996 and has produced and distributed several national guidelines for the prevention and control of NCDs. The Food-based Dietary guidelines developed in 2001, have been used for education purposes for prevention of chronic NCDs and food labelling regulations are currently being revised. However, the impact of these actions has been limited as seen from the deteriorating risk factor profile. • Health Services Primary health care is not well programmed to deliver preventive or treatment services for NCDs and South Africa has some way to go to provide integrated primary health care. Access to specialised procedures is not optimal. The cervical cancer screening programme was introduced in 2004 as part of the cancer control programme. However, there are indications that this programme does not reach all women. • Human Resources The general shortage of health-care professionals, particularly in rural areas, impacts across all aspects of health care. Effective management of NCDs particularly focusing on the four main risk factors for NCDs, i.e. 62 2 2 60 60 51 51 20 1990 1990 20 Women 60 47 17 1736 64 30 30 20 20 Women Women 80 80 2009 19 Men 1440 14 52 LDL LDL blood blood cholestrol cholestrol (>3 (>3 mmol/l mmol/l )) Cape Cape Town Town Ekhasi Ekhasi (Township) (Township) LDL blood cholestrol (>3 mmol/l ) Cape Town Ekhasi (Township) 80 8 8 29 29 Men Men 80 80 Percentage Percentage Percentage 1990 18 40 6940 60 Men Hypertension: The significant increase Women in hypertension in the past Men 50 50 ten years, as well as inadequate diagnosis and control of raised blood 40 40 35 pressure (BP), predicts an increase in strokes and heart attacks in 29 29 30 30 24 10,17 21 the20 years to come. Predisposing factors such as high salt intake 17 17 20 14 14 11 10 obesity 10 8 and levels of must10 be addressed to reduce BP 10 increasing 6 5 4 5 2 2 in the future. Furthermore, improved hypertension detection and 0 0 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ treatment are needed. Age group Age group Percentage 6 6 2 2 5 5 2008 NIDS 17 1998 SADHS 10 Women Women 50 50 80 Percentage Percentage 80 2007 Diabetes Town (Township) Physical inactivity SADHS 2003 11 Diabetes (>11.1 (>11.1 mmol/l mmol/l )) Cape Cape Town Ekhasi Ekhasi (Township) Men Men 50 50 40 40 Women Percentage Percentage 100 78 Percentage 100 Men 15-24 15-24 25-34 25-34 35-44 35-44 45-54 45-54 55-64 55-64 65+ 65+ Age Age group group 2002 1997 Year 17 2008 2008 NIDS NIDS 17 Percentage Percentage 2005 SABSSM 12 15-24 55-64 15-24 25-34 25-34 35-44 35-44 45-54 45-54 55-64 65+ 65+ 0 Age Age group group 1992 Percentage Percentage 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Age group tobacco use, poor diet, lack of exercise and alcohol use, is required at primary care level. However, primary health-care nurses working at the clinics often lack the necessary skills to comprehensively deal with NCDs and little use is made of community health workers. • Surveillance and Information Systems The national NCD surveillance system, which is essential to inform strategic planning and policy, is currently rudimentary. There is a need to improve the completeness of death registration and the quality of the cause of death information. Morbidity data and quality of care information are not generally collected and risk factor monitoring through routine population-based surveys needs to be instituted at regular intervals. • Financing South Africa has a public and private sector resulting in considerable inequalities in access to health care. A National Health Insurance scheme is being planned to strengthen health-care services and improve equity. There is little information about the expenditure on the treatment or prevention of NCDs and inadequate funding to do research in this area. a national policy and strategy for ncds An effective NCD policy has two aspects, namely, population-wide interventions and health care interventions. Population-wide interventions that change behaviours of the whole population can be cost-effective, but these must be combined with cost-effective primary care interventions which target individuals who are at high risk.22 At the same time, efforts to reduce inequalities in income, employment and educational achievement have an important role to play in averting the NCD epidemic. Continued overleaf 65 •Population-wide interventions to promote healthy diet, physical activity, healthy environment and no smoking or harmful alcohol use • S trengthen tobacco control, particularly among young people and decrease passive smoke exposure of children in the home • Support smoking quitting programmes • Promote healthy eating patterns that are low in fat and sugar and high in fruit and vegetables, in part, by addressing access, through intersectoral programmes involving the agricultural sector • Reduce salt in foods • Reduce trans-fat in foods • Restrict access to alcohol (through addressing physical availability and pricing) and extend alcohol control legislation (particularly in the areas of alcohol marketing, and drinking and driving) • Promotion of physical activity in schools and workplaces, and through urban planning for active commuting and access to safe public green space • Reduce exposure to biomass pollutants through electrification of households • Control air pollution including review and enforcing legislation related to polluted places of work • Media and communication strategies to prevent NCDs • Strengthen primary health care • S trengthen district-based primary health care by implementing the integrated World Health Organization chronic disease model of care • Use the absolute risk approach to identify those at highest risk for NCDs • Develop community-based care to support primary health-care centres and people with NCDs • Introduce realistic guidelines for managing and treating NCDs and their risk factors • Train health-care providers and managers in optimal NCD care • Train health-care providers in patient-centred communication styles • Implement appropriate referral systems • Ensure constant supply of medications needed for NCDs and their risk factors • Ensure cost-effective interventions are fully implemented • Foster collaboration between public and private sector • Strengthen quality assurance • D evelop an NCD surveillance system including information to monitor quality of care • Develop evaluation capacity • Develop capacity to review evidence and identify best-buy options • Strengthen health research focused on identifying effective interventions for prevention and management of NCDs references 1.Mayosi BM, Flisher AJ, Lalloo UG, Sitas F, Tollman SM, Bradshaw D. 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Dietary Changes and the Health Transition in South Africa: Implications for Health Policy. Cape Town: South African Medical Research Council, 2006. 16.FAO Food Balance Sheets. 2007. [Online]. Available: http://www.fao.org/faostat [2011, August 1]. 17.Ardington C, Case A. National Income Dynamics Study Health: Analysis of the NIDS Wave 1 Dataset. Discussion Paper No. 2. Cape Town: Southern African Labour & Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, 2009. 18.Levitt NS, Katzenellenbogen JM, Bradshaw D, Hoffman MN, Bonnici F. The prevalence and identification of risk factors for NIDDM in urban Africans in Cape Town, South Africa. Diabetes Care 1993; 16(4):601-607. 19.Levitt NS. Unpublished data from CRIBSA study 2009. 20.Oelofse A, Jooste PL, Badenhorst CJ, Lombard C, Bourne L et al,. The lipid and lipoprotein profile of the urban black South Africa population of the Cape Peninsula – the BRISK study. S Afr Med J 1996; 86: 162-166. 21.Parry CDH. Alcohol policy in South Africa: a review of policy development processes between 1994 and 2009. Addiction, 2010: 105; 1340-1345. 22.Bradshaw D, Norman R, Lewin S, Joubert J, Schneider M, Nannan N, Groenewald P, et al,. Strengthening public health in South Africa: Building a stronger evidence base for improving the health of the nation. S Afr Med J 2007; 97: 643-649. Investing in intensive NCD prevention and treatment programmes NOW will have tremendous payoffs for the future of our country