Non-communicable diseases, as the name implies, are set of diseases that are non-transmittable from one person to another. Some experts also refer this as lifestyle diseases. Some NCDs include most heart diseases, most cancers, diabetes, chronic kidney diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and others.
The World Health Organization states that NCDs – primarily heart and lung diseases, cancers and diabetes – are the world’s largest killers, with an estimated 38 million deaths annually. Of these deaths, 16 million are premature (under 70 years of age). Moreover, a research conducted by the WHO discovered that NCDs account for 68% of all deaths in the Philippines, and the probability of dying between the ages of 30 and 70 years from one of the four main NCDs is 29% in the Philippines.
For years, we have known that non-communicable diseases heavily affect a person’s health. A survey conducted by the WHO also says that people with any NCDs are also less productive thus affecting a country’s labour force.
Some behavioural risk factors that contribute to the progress of NCDs are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful tobacco and alcohol use. Some intermediate factors are gender, genetics, overweight or obesity, raised blood sugar, high blood pressure and abnormal blood lipids.
The main question is, can we prevent non-communicable diseases from affecting our lives? The answer is YES, since most NCDs are actually preventable. The World Health Organization suggests that one of the most important ways of reducing deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is to control unhealthy lifestyle choices that lead to their development. These include reducing the use of tobacco and the harmful use of alcohol, maintaining an active lifestyle and developing a healthy diet. We have the different dietary guides that may help us achieve a healthier lifestyle such as Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos or the 10 Kumainments and the Food Plate or Pinggang Pinoy.
There are also existing policies and treatments to reduce the NCD burden in our country. To name a few, we have the Republic Act 10351 (also known as the Sin Tax Reform Law) enacted on 2012, the Republic Act 10963 (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) encated on 2017, Package of Essential NCD Interventions (PhilPEN), Philhealth primary care benefit package for NCDs and provision of NCD maintenance medicines under the Medicines Access Program of the Department of Health.
Management of NCDs is challenging especially in low- and middle-income countries that is why early detection, screening and management are vital to reduce further risks and complications from NCDs. The long-term nature of many NCDs demand an integrated and comprehensive health system response and need to be sustained for a significant period of time. However, with the existing policies, programs and constant collaborative efforts of our government and other concerned agencies, soon, we can beat the burden brought by Non communicable diseases.
PNC-ZDS Marie Claire A. Gaas
References:
- Non-communicable diseases:
https://www.who.int/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases#tab=tab_1
- Preventing non-communicable diseases
https://www.who.int/activities/preventing-noncommunicable-diseases
- Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in the Philippines
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/wpro---documents/countries/philippines/reports/prevention-and-control-of-noncommunicable-diseases-in-the-philippines---the-case-for-investment.pdf?sfvrsn=6005b6d1_2
- Early Management of NCDS
Jakab M, Evetovits T, McDaid D. Health systems respond to noncommunicable diseases: time for ambition. Copenhagen, Demark: WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2018: 200–23
