KARACHI: Inactivity fuelling NC diseases, says WHO
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec 4: In Pakistan scant attention is paid to the control and prevention of non-communicable diseases even though these have considerable burden, says a World Health Organization (WHO) report.
According to the report, entitled “The Problem of Non-communicable diseases in Pakistan”, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and disability world-wide. Prevalence of cardio-vascular diseases, cancers and diabetes are increasing globally.
In 2001 alone NCDs contributed to almost 60 per cent (33.1 million) of all deaths in the world. Based on current trends, these diseases are expected to account for more than 70 per cent of deaths and 60 per cent of the disease burden in the year 2020.
The World Health Report 2002 lists physical inactivity among the main risks contributing to global chronic disease morbidity and mortality with unhealthy diet and tobacco use. Physical inactivity is estimated to have caused 1.9 million deaths globally in 2000 and around 15 to 20 per cent of cases of Ischemic heart diseases, diabetes and some cancers.
The risk of getting a cardiovascular disease increases by up to 1.5 times in people who do not follow minimum physical activity recommendations. Worldwide, it is estimated that over 60 per cent of adults are simply not active enough to benefit their health, says the WHO report.
The World Cancer Report, released recently, has ominously pointed out that cancer rates could further increase by 50 per cent to 15 million new cases in the year 2020. The report also makes it clear that healthy lifestyles and public health action by the governments and health practitioners could stem this trend and prevent as many as one third of cancers worldwide.
According to Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi, WHO Operations Officer for Sindh, the situation in Pakistan is equally grim as it is expected to have some 15 million diabetics, the highest rate in the world, by 2025. “Moreover, unless urgent behavioural changes are brought about in the people, there would be no means to prevent an upsurge in non-communicable diseases in the country in the foreseeable future,” he said.
Unless smoking trends change, he said, three decade from now premature deaths caused by consumption of tobacco in the developing world would exceed the expected deaths from AIDS, tuberculosis and complications in childbirth combined.
According to Dr Kazi, the increase in the sale of tobacco and its products over the years is responsible for impeding health action in a number of ways. Tobacco companies have fought against the imposition of tobacco control laws and attempted to influence decision-makers everywhere.
The government of Pakistan has, however, risen to the challenge and enacted legislation to save its citizens including non-smokers from these deadly products. Although the on-going battle against disease undoubtedly requires financial and human resources yet these inputs will be insufficient unless augmented by sustained political commitment spearheaded by national action for health, said Dr Kazi.
