Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said that the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) was rapidly growing, a situation that demonstrates that if they are not controlled, they can cause a significant increase in deaths in the country.
In a speech read on his behalf by the director of curative services at the Ministry of Health, Prof Paschal Ruggajo during the opening of a three-day regional non-communicable diseases scientific conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Premier stressed for increased joint efforts to fight the diseases.
He said the government under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan has committed to increase investment in research, technology and health services infrastructure (6.7trn/-) in order to transform the sector while facilitating access to quality and affordable health services to all.
“Non-communicable diseases have become a major threat to the health and well-being of our people. They are silently affecting our citizens, undermining the progress we are striving to achieve as a nation. The effects of these diseases extend beyond individual suffering; they affect our communities, our economy, and ultimately the future of our great nation,” the Prime Minister said.
“We are committed to ensure that we take robust measures to prevent and fight NCDs, last month Minister for Health Ummy Mwalimu launched a national programme to extensively educate the public on NDCs.
The government is also implementing and giving priority on strategies to facilitate testing, easy diagnosis of diseases, investing in basic health especially through service providers at the community level as well as involving the community itself in preventing and controlling the diseases.
“NCDs currently seem to affect more people than communicable diseases, and 67 percent of these diseases occur before the age of 40 which is the national workforce.
He noted that as per the World Health organisation (WHO), NCDs kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 74 per cent of all deaths globally. Of all NCD deaths, 77 per cent are in low- and middle-income countries.
He said that the government, through support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), is set to conduct the National Step Survey 2023 regarding risk factors of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the country.
He commended the Ministry of Health (MoH) through the Non-Communicable Diseases Control and Prevention Programme in collaboration with Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) and NCDs Alliance East Africa for organising the conference is one of the key interventions for tackling the rising burden of NCDs.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and disability in Tanzania and other countries in the region.
Prof Apolinary Kamuhabwa, MUHAS acting Vice Chancellor said the conference will see experts and policymakers discuss the latest research and best practices on NCD prevention, surveillance and management.
He said Tanzania first held the National Non-Communicable Diseases Scientific Conference in November 2019 and since then this conference has been taking place every November kick starts the NCDs Week in the country with the aim of raising public awareness about the rising burden of NCDS in the country and globally.
This conference is an important opportunity to strengthen regional collaboration in the fight against NCDs. By working together, we can share experiences and develop common solutions to the challenges we face,” he noted.
Valeria Milinga, manager of the NCD programme said the Ministry of Health and the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) are set to conduct a National Step Survey in the surveillance of risk factors for NCDs, in order to collect important data on the diseases.
She said the survey will provide important information on the health status of the community, areas of improvement and consequently set up improvement strategies to strengthen public health.
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