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Dr. William Bonsu (arrow) addressing the participants at the Accra workshop
Members of the West African Health Organization (WAHO) have started a consultative meeting in Accra to identify measures to reduce the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), responsible for more than 1.2 million people deaths per year in the region.
More than 50 stakeholders, including experts from 15 member countries, including Ghana, participate in the three-day workshop on "Strengthening Regional Regulatory Capacities for Improving Nutrition and Health in Africa". West Africa ".
Participants include policy makers, public health practitioners, economists, lawyers, politicians, scientists, pharmacists, agronomists, sociologists, psychologists, journalists, customs officials, trade experts and tax experts.
Issues to be considered include regulations on food, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and tobacco in West Africa.
Participants will also discuss ways to strengthen the capacity of member countries to deal effectively with NCDs.
NCDs such as stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung and heart disease are collectively responsible for nearly 70% of deaths worldwide, of which more than 50% can be prevented.
Importance
In an address read on his behalf at the opening of the conference in Accra on Tuesday, Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang-Manu stressed the importance of the meeting, as it also highlight the contribution of regulatory agencies to NCDs. which weighed heavily on health budgets at the global level.
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Although NCDs are essentially lifestyle-related diseases, regulation and enforcement are essential to cope with the burden placed on countries through the use and sale of food, alcohol and other products. of tobacco.
Containing NCDs should be an integral part of the WAHO goals to enable member countries to achieve the third goal of sustainable development (SDG) on health and well-being for all ages.
Collaborations
The representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Ghana, Dr Owen Kaluwa, called on all Member States to take collective action to reduce NCDs in West Africa.
"Indeed, the NCD epidemic will be fought and won only through the concerted effort of all relevant sectors and stakeholders working together. So, I am pleased to see the regulators in West Africa gathered at this workshop to discuss how you can strengthen the roles as key stakeholders in the fight against NCDs. For that, I would like to congratulate OOSA again, "he said.
He noted that in order to find comprehensive solutions to NCDs, member countries needed to develop multi-sectoral national strategic plans and policies to guide the work and interventions of all involved stakeholders.
"It also means that, in pursuit of universal health coverage, we must ensure that the package of essential services we offer includes interventions to combat NCDs across the continuum of promotional, preventive services. , curative and rehabilitation based on primary health care, "he added.
Medical Evacuations
Dr. William Bonsu, head of the prevention of epidemics and noncommunicable diseases at WAHO, said NCDs were a common cause of medical evacuation, which was increasingly affecting young people, communities and communities. rural and poor households.
"Emerging trends, including e-cigarettes, shisha, drug addiction, sedentary television, mobile phones and video games, as well as the intensification of advertising by practitioners of traditional medicine, contribute to this heavy burden, "he said.
He mentioned other contributing factors, such as aggressive advertising on sugary drinks, alcoholic beverages, including bitters, through traditional and social media, non-existent laws and weak enforcement of existing laws, badociated with limited access to affordable care and limited political will.
"Regulatory agencies have the primary responsibility to protect the public from unhealthy products and exploitation by producers and traders," he said.
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