The Sunday Mail
Non-communicable diseases have overtaken HIV and Aids as the leading killer in Zimbabwe, accounting for 138 000 deaths in 2014 alone.
The latest World Health Organisation statistics show that the number of HIV-related deaths in 2014 (63 853) and 2013 (61 476) do not match NCD figures – even when combined.
This has spurred health authorities into action, with their focus being prevention and early treatment.
The WHO Zimbabwe Report 2014 shows that NCDs accounted for 31 percent of all deaths in that year. The remaining deaths were caused by infectious diseases; maternal, peri-natal and nutritional conditions; and physical injuries.
NCDs are diseases which cannot be transmitted from person to person. The major ones are cardio-vascular and chronic lung diseases, cancers and diabetes.
Cancers topped the list with 10 percent of deaths followed by cardio-vascular diseases (nine percent), chronic lung diseases (three percent), and diabetes (one percent).
In 2008, WHO projected Zimbabwe to register 19 000 NCD deaths yearly, far less than what has materialised.
Countries with larger populations recorded more NCD deaths in 2014. The United States had 2,6 million; Nigeria had two million, South Africa had 608 000, France had 554 000 and Kenya recorded 369 000.
Dr Owen Mugurungi – the Health and Child Care Ministry’s preventive services acting principal director – linked high incidence of NCDs to diet.
“Traditionally, NCDs have been overshadowed by world attention on HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis. However, there is now need for a policy shift in Zimbabwe. These are no longer diseases of the wealthy. Anyone can succumb as they are lifestyle-related.
“NCDs may not ravage a society as quickly and visibly as uncontrolled infection, but their death toll is real and increasing. Most of them are preventable to a degree. By becoming informed, making conscious diet and exercise decisions and being proactive about their health, individuals can do a lot to prevent them.
“Avoid things that will raise risk factors … things like smoking actively or passively, drinking alcohol in excess and many others.”
Dr Mugurungi said inadequate funding was impeding the ministry’s fight against NCDs.
“If the ministry got more funds then such funds would be adequately channelled to each health programme. Zimbabwe has been struggling to meet the Abuja Declaration target. Hopefully, we will get there.
“Dissemination health information is essential, but domestic health financing must be improved to address new challenges such as the rising levels of NCDs.”
Global NCD incidence has escalated over the years and this has been linked to poor dietary and general lifestyle habits.
NCDs kill 38 million people annually with statistics showing they are responsible for almost two-thirds (23 million) of all deaths in the developing world yearly.
In 2011, the United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs resolved to activate global mechanisms, including the Global Action Plan for Prevention and Control of NCDs (2013-2020).
This plan aims to reduce the number of premature deaths caused by this group of diseases by 25 percent by 2015.
In 2013, Zimbabwe’s Parliament advocated a cancer levy, but Treasury shot down the proposal arguing that this would further burden tax-payers.
Government is working towards meeting targets in the Abuja Declaration, which African Union states signed in Nigeria in 2001, pledging to raise health funding to at least 15 percent.
Zimbabwe’s funding is between eight and 10 percent.
Mr Itai Rusike, executive director of the Community Working Group on Health, said the need to increase NCD funding could not be overemphasised.
The cost of treatment of most NCDs is beyond the reach of many Zimbabweans.
The costs of cancer treatments vary according to the type of and stage. The costs include examination, diagnosis, lumpectomy, surgery and chemotherapy/radiotherapy, which run into thousands of dollars with no subsidies to alleviate the financial burden.
Figures we obtained show that a radiotherapy session costs between US$3 000 and US$4 000, while chemotherapy costs between US$100 and US$1 000 per cycle depending on the stage the cancer would have advanced to.
In India, where many Zimbabweans seek such medical care, radiotherapy costs about US$1 900 and chemotherapy is an average US$900 per cycle.
Cancer Association of Zimbabwe monitoring and evaluation officer Mr Lovemore Makurirofa urged people to be more health conscious.
“Early detection greatly reduces the cost of treatment … Sadly, the opposite is true. When a cancer is detected late, then it becomes expensive to the patient and chances of cure are almost nil,” he said.
