Health Ministry Warns as Cancer, Diabetes Death Rate Rises

Ugandans have been urged to take healthy diets and do more physical exercises as one of the ways to prevent non communicable diseases (NCDs) such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer among others.

While officially launching Novartis Access Program in Ugandan, Dr Gerald Mutungi, the Commissioner Health Services at the Ministry of Health said Uganda as a country has not been sensitized on NCDs.

“In Uganda we are seeing more patients with diabetes, more patients with hypertension, cancer and mental issues,” said Dr Mutungi.

”These are killing so many people prematurely as many of them die before they are 70. As government through Ministry of Health and our partners we are keen to put in place measures that will stop the rising incidents and prevent premature mortality by non-communicable diseases,” he said.

Mutungi however noted that this will not take just government but every individual to put up a fight.

“Government has made the NCDs fight a top priority. We have established lifestyle changes among citizens emphasizing health diets in both the young and the old, low salt intake, low sugar intake, we have highlighted the dangers of sugary drinks, we have red flagged tobacco smoking and encouraged physical activities,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, Mutungi applauded Novartis for embracing public private partnership with the Ugandan government.

“It is because of this public private partnership between government of Uganda and Novartis that we are here today to launch this Novartis program which will enable many Ugandans access well researched high quality affordable drugs through National Medical Stores, Joint Medical Stores and other distributors involved,” he said.

World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 33% of all deaths in Uganda in 2016 were due to NCDs.

The report highlights harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, tobacco use, ambient air pollution, obesity, salt/ sodium intake etc as some of the risk factors associated with NCDs.

Mugabi challenged all the stakeholders in the program to ensure patients are prioritised all the time.

The Novartis Access Program is a partnership between Ministry of Health, Novartis social business, WALIMU and Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB).

The program will help ensure the high number of people living with NCDs can access quality and affordable treatment.

The program will also raise NCD awareness through community awareness campaigns and capacity building of healthcare professionals.

Dr. Tonny Tumwesigye, the executive director Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau said in this program, all top religious’ leaders will be involved in passing a message to the flock about the dangers of NCDs and how the diseases can be prevented.