The Challenge of Non-Communicable Diseases and Road Traffic Injuries in Sub-Saharan Africa : An Overview
This report draws on a comprehensive review of the literature and on input from policy makers, researchers, and practitioners to address four questions: (1) how is the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and road traffic injuries (RTIs) changing the epidemiology of Sub-Saharan Africa? (2) What determines and drives this burden, and what are the commonalities with communicable diseases? (3) What is the rationale for public intervention? (4) How could resource-constrained governments approach NCD prevention and treatment and road safety in a comprehensive, effective and efficient way? The data show that action against NCDs and RTIs in Sub-Saharan Africa is needed, together with continued efforts to address communicable diseases and maternal and child health as well as to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The report suggests that NCDs and RTIs should not be tackled separately as a vertical program, nor should they displace communicable diseases as priorities. Instead, given resource constraints, and some shared determinants, characteristics, and interventions, there is scope for an integrated approach focusing on functions (prevention, treatment, and care) rather than on disease categories. Examples are cited of potential opportunities to integrate and add NCD prevention and treatment into existing services and programs. Proven, cost-effective, prevention interventions are clearly needed, many of which (such as tobacco and alcohol taxes, road safety measures, and fuel-efficient ventilated cook-stoves) require action beyond the health sector. These can deliver broader development benefits in addition to their benefits for health. Selective, evidence-based actions to reduce NCDs and RTIs will address the changing disease burden in Africa and achieve a more sustainable improvement in health outcomes, more efficient use of resources, and better equity across patients and populations.
| Summary: | This report draws on a comprehensive
review of the literature and on input from policy makers,
researchers, and practitioners to address four questions:
(1) how is the growing burden of non-communicable diseases
(NCDs) and road traffic injuries (RTIs) changing the
epidemiology of Sub-Saharan Africa? (2) What determines and
drives this burden, and what are the commonalities with
communicable diseases? (3) What is the rationale for public
intervention? (4) How could resource-constrained governments
approach NCD prevention and treatment and road safety in a
comprehensive, effective and efficient way? The data show
that action against NCDs and RTIs in Sub-Saharan Africa is
needed, together with continued efforts to address
communicable diseases and maternal and child health as well
as to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The
report suggests that NCDs and RTIs should not be tackled
separately as a vertical program, nor should they displace
communicable diseases as priorities. Instead, given resource
constraints, and some shared determinants, characteristics,
and interventions, there is scope for an integrated approach
focusing on functions (prevention, treatment, and care)
rather than on disease categories. Examples are cited of
potential opportunities to integrate and add NCD prevention
and treatment into existing services and programs. Proven,
cost-effective, prevention interventions are clearly needed,
many of which (such as tobacco and alcohol taxes, road
safety measures, and fuel-efficient ventilated cook-stoves)
require action beyond the health sector. These can deliver
broader development benefits in addition to their benefits
for health. Selective, evidence-based actions to reduce NCDs
and RTIs will address the changing disease burden in Africa
and achieve a more sustainable improvement in health
outcomes, more efficient use of resources, and better equity
across patients and populations. |
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