Please support our efforts in Fighting against NCDs in Tanzania
Introduction
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the
leading cause of death globally, and one of the major health challenges of the
21st century. In September 2011, at the United Nations General Assembly in New
York, a political declaration was made to strengthen global and
national responses to prevent and control
NCDs (United Nations General Assembly Resolution
A/RES/66/2. Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General
Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases. New York:
United Nations; 2012. (https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/720106/files/A_RES_66_2-EN.pdf))
As part of the declaration, WHO was given a
leadership role, and subsequently
established the WHO Global Action
Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013–2020 (Global NCD Action Plan)
adopted by the World Health Assembly
in 2013.
The first global target is a 25% relative
reduction in overall mortality
from the four major NCDs (cardiovascular diseases,
cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases).
Further targets relate to the reduction in NCD
risk factors including both behavioral risk
factors (the harmful
use of alcohol, physical inactivity, salt/sodium intake
and tobacco use) and metabolic risk factors (raised blood
pressure, raised blood glucose and obesity).
Targets
were also set regarding country capacity to deal with NCDs, in particular the
availability of technologies and medicines to treat NCDs, and access to drugs
and counseling to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Many people
in The United Republic of Tanzania (Tanzania) are at risk of getting NCDs such
as diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension) and cancers due to exposure to
various risk factors i.e. urbanization, unhealthy diet and reduced levels of
physical activity. Lack of awareness of NCDs among the general population and a
health care system with lack of capacity to adequately address NCDs are other
concerns in Tanzania.
The rapid rise in NCDs was acknowledged by
the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children in
Tanzania (MoH Tanzania) and resulted in the development of a National
Strategy for Non-communicable Diseases (2011-2015) in the recognition of the
emerging importance and severity of the NCD burden.
The National NCD Strategy of MoH Tanzania has
recently been updated and expanded through a second stage 2016-2020 document,
which now also encompasses the integration of NCD prevention and care into
other health programme areas (HIV, TB, Reproductive/Child Health), and suggests
further emphasis on strengthened, integrated primary care. The 2016-2020 NCD
strategy document is accessible here (http://www.worlddiabetesfoundation.org/files/tanzania-ncd-stategic-plan-2016-2020)
Mortality
NCDs are by far the leading cause of death
worldwide. In
2016, they were responsible for 71% (41
million) of the 57
million deaths which occurred globally (Global Health Estimates 2016: Deaths by
Cause, Age, Sex, by Country and by Region, 2000–2016. Geneva: World Health
Organization). The major
NCDs responsible for these deaths included
cardiovascular
diseases (17.9 million deaths, accounting
for 44% of all NCD deaths and 31% of all global deaths); cancers (9 million
deaths, 9% of all NCD deaths and 16% of all global deaths); chronic respiratory
diseases (3.8 million deaths,
9% of all NCD deaths and 7% of all global
deaths); and
diabetes (1.6 million deaths, 4% of all NCD
deaths and 3%
of all global deaths) An even higher
proportion (75%) of premature adult deaths (occurring in those aged 30–69
years) were caused by NCDs, demonstrating that NCDs are not solely a problem
for older populations. The global probability of dying from one of the four
main NCDs
in 2016 was 18%, with a slightly higher
risk for males (22%) than for females (15%)
RASA’s
Involvement
Reach and Support for All (RASA)
was created on October 11, 2015 as a non-profit organization committed to
contributing in
ensuring that the people of Tanzania and elsewhere attain better living through
economic, social, literacy and health development. RASA’s vision
is to see a prosperous community free from poverty and diseases ,
with the mission to ensure that the people of Tanzania attain better living
conditions through Health, Literacy and Social development
RASA
currently focus on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) with more emphasis on
hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM) and Obesity. We started in Mwanza city
and intend to spread our activities across Tanzania.
In Mwanza, RASA
has done several health awareness campaigns and screenings for hypertension,
diabetes and obesity and has seen great success in the number of people that
turned out for the screenings and the change in mindset toward NCDs among the local
community.
RASA also had few things to learn during the screenings, for instance,
we learned that the working class/working age
people as compared to community screenings showed a higher prevalence of
obesity and diabetes despite being composed of a younger population, also the
percentage of newly diagnosed hypertensive employees was high and that some
employees previously diagnosed and supposedly taking medication were still
diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes. This points out an urgent need for
screening services in businesses and the necessity of RASA work. Employee
health programs, insisting on prevention and treatment are urgently needed.
RASA
now intends to go to Geita region and expand on its activities a one more step
to achieve its goal to reach the rest of the country. We need your help to raise funds to reach the
Geita community.
Here is what your
gracious donation help to support:
- Visiting various villages and communities creating awareness on NCDs and proper dieting.
- Buying medical equipment to conduct free screening for Hypertension, Diabetes and Obesity to members of the community
- Advocating for proper policies and implementation of the policies on healthy foods, healthy diets and rightful consumption of alcohol
- Research to compile and examine the existing evidence base to determine the components of an effective treatment program
- Coordination of the campaign and volunteers
The RASA’s
campaign in fighting against NCDs in Tanzania is aimed at saving lives by
improving awareness on NCDs and encouraging frequent medical checkups while
preventing NCDs.
We are asking you
to help us by supporting this project with a donation to our organization; your
gift will make a difference in the lives of many Tanzanians who struggle with
NCDs.
Please contact us on how to donate to our
organization through our contact page below the blog. Any amount will be
appreciated, but a gift of $100 will go a long way towards helping us reach our
goal of $ 100,000 and help in the fight against NCDs in Geita region as a way
to reach the whole of Tanzania. We greatly appreciate your support and will
keep you posted on our progress.Sincerely,
REACH AND SUPPORT ALL ORGANIZATION
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