Non communicable Disease Is A Silent Killer – Anambra Health Commissioner Warns

Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, has described Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) as a silent killer that must be tackled in the society.

Dr. Obidike said this at the just concluded 2day training of trainers organised by the AstraZeneca and Healthy Heart Africa partners in Awka.

The training involved participants of Ministries of Health, Primary Healthcare Developments from Anambra, Imo, Enugu and Delta States.

This training of trainers of Health Professionals on Non-Communicable disease is highly commendable because it will help us to educate our people that non-communicable disease shouldn’t be taken for granted.

According to Dr.Obidike, “It may interest you to know that non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory and diabetes are the leading causes of death worldwide, representing an emerging global health threat.

“Deaths from Non- Communicable Diseases (NCDs) now exceed all communicable disease deaths combined, so I am very delighted that participants are health personnel that will help address these silent killer diseases in their different States.

“Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71 percent of all deaths globally. More than 15 million people die from an NCD between the ages of 30 and 69 years, 85 percent of these premature deaths occur in low and middle income countries.

“Cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, 17.9million people annually, followed by cancers 9.3million, respiratory diseases 4.1million and diabetes 1.5million.

“So these four groups of diseases account for over 80 percent of all premature NON-Communicable Disease(NCD) deaths.

“All the states participating in this training have common diseases like diabetes and hypertension that are killing our people. If we fail to tackle it, it will be devastating to us.”  

He commended AstraZeneca and Healthy Heart Africa (HHA) for organizing the impactful training that will help in addressing the non-communicable disease issues and urged the participants to help step down the training.

Mr Paul Edeh, a participant said, “Population Services International is an American Non-Governmental Organisation that operates in more than 60 Countries including Nigeria.

“So we are involved in so many health interventions like Family Planning and currently the implementing partners for Healthy Heart Africa, which is sponsored by AstraZeneca.

“Healthy Heart Africa is a program funded by AstraZeneca majorly on Non-Communicable diseases, especially hypertension control, that’s what we are working on.’’  

Mr Edeh commended the Commissioner for his contributions as well as for educating the participants on Non-Communicable diseases and the importance of accurate data.

He explained that the Non-Communicable Disease program will be expanded from the 6 Local Governments to more in the future.

According to him, the Zonal training of trainers is for States in the South East and they will help to step down the training to health facilities.

A Facilitator from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Mrs Kosarachi Aluka, said they trained the participants on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) management with a focus on hypertension.

“I am very much impressed with their input and output as far as this training is concerned and they participated optimally.

“Participants were trained on introduction to hypertension, causes, complications, diagnosis management, blood pressure measurement, Patient counselling, patient tracking and monitoring and adherence support.”

The participants applauded the organisers of the programme and the facilitators for a job well done.