Introduction
People’s health of is crucial for sustainability of any country. It is important to note that in the past, more focus had been directed towards infectious diseases while non-communicable diseases were left behind. HIV/AIDS, and other diseases that were assumed to be more dangerous than non-communicable diseases, received higher funding and programs concerned with them were of national importance.
However, the number of deaths due to non-communicable diseases has increased in the recent past to about 16.5% of all deaths (Litsinsky J, Siegel & Listinsky C 2011). Moreover, the world population is aging at a very fast rate which increases the prevalence of non-communicable diseases.
On the same note, non-communicable diseases have reduced productivity of people thus reducing economic growth. Furthermore, the lifestyles that people have adopted nowadays have contributed to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. In this regard, various stake holders in the health sector have been getting support from other concerned parties to increase the focus on non-communicable diseases.
Factors that have led to the Increased Focus on Non-Communicable disease
There are several factors that have led to the increased focus on non-communicable diseases. To begin with, non-communicable diseases are very closely related to types of food that people eat. Nowadays people have diverted from natural foods that are not only nutritious but also medicinal. Instead, people are now consuming too much sugar and other junk foods (Bagchi & Sreejayan 2012).
These foods have been found to increase in the rate of non-communicable diseases among people. Similarly, the sedentary lifestyles combined with Increased consumption of alcohol and tobacco that people have adopted nowadays greatly contribute to the increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases (Falk & Briss 2011).
While health professionals and the public in general were greatly concerned with how to prevent and combat infectious diseases like AIDS and tuberculosis, non-communicable diseases were slowly spreading. As a result, non-communicable diseases are responsible for the majority of deaths in the world today. There is little knowledge among the public on how to manage non-communicable diseases (Glanz, Rimer & Viswanath 2008).
Consequently, many patients with non-communicable diseases die prematurely yet if their condition was properly managed it would increase their life span. There are more deaths among adults than children. It would therefore be vital to increase the spread of information on how to manage non-communicable diseases among the community. It should be noted here that some non-communicable diseases are preventable which makes it necessary for people to be informed on ways to avoid the diseases.
Arguably, people have had wrong information about non-communicable diseases. For a very long time, people have associated non-communicable diseases with the rich countries of the world. In this regard, poor countries have always been thought to be safe as regards non-communicable diseases. However, the reverse is actually the case and 80% of deaths due to non-communicable diseases take place in low and middle income countries (Richard, Witter & Brouwere 2010).
There are more poor people suffering from non-communicable diseases than rich people because they are not careful of the contents of their diet (Frank 2007). Similarly, it has been recently depicted that non-communicable diseases are more prevalent in poor and middle income countries. It should be noted here that non-communicable diseases increase poverty in families and also the community as a whole due to huge amount of finances that are required to manage the affected.
Another factor that has made people more concerned with non-communicable diseases is the fact that the global population has an increasing number of aging people. Contrary to population demographics of the past the majority of people in many parts of the world today are elderly.
The crux of the matter is not the fact that these people are getting old, but that they are doing so while suffering from non-communicable diseases (Ellison, Parker & Campbell 2003). This will increase their burden to society and the economy if steps are not taken now because of the health care they will require in the future.
Furthermore, the cost of non-communicable diseases to the economy is increasing each day. If their condition is not managed properly, people suffering from various non-communicable diseases quickly become unable to work. Besides reducing the output of an economy, this also increases poverty especially for families that were dependent on the sick person. Moreover, money has to be spent on buying drugs and giving the sick proper food among other costs related to the disease (Nichter 2008). This reduces the money available for other investments thus deterring economic growth.
Most importantly, research has shown that non-communicable diseases and infectious diseases are somehow related. A patient suffering from either infectious or non-communicable disease is at a greater risk of developing the other. Research has shown particularly that diabetes increases the risk of developing tuberculosis. Consequently, efforts should be directed towards both infectious and non-communicable diseases if any achievement is to be realized regarding health care quality.
Steps being taken to counter Non-Communicable Diseases
Having outlined the factors that have led to the renewed focus on non-communicable diseases, let us now direct our focus to the methods used to combat the problem of the diseases. It is important to note that these steps are not limited to a given region or country but are global. In many nations, programs have been initiated to ensure that there is enhanced prevention of non-communicable diseases especially those with common risk factors (Skolnik, 2011).
This is done through formation of community based groups where people are taught about how good diets and avoiding certain substances can prevent some non-communicable diseases. These programs emphasize educating people about the importance of reducing tobacco use as well as alcohol consumption. Advantages of increased physical activity to the health of a person are also given focus. Furthermore, efforts are made to ensure that people are taught on how to reduce environmental pollution for the benefit of the society as a whole.
As was depicted from above, non-communicable diseases have shifted in prevalence from the rich to the poor. The majority of people suffering from non-communicable diseases are unable to get proper medication let alone information on how effectively manage the diseases (Andermann 2012).
Consequently, in order to effectively counter the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, drugs and other devices necessary for the treatment and management of the diseases should be affordable. In this regard, steps have been taken by various governments in the world to ensure that people can easily access health facilities and that services at these facilities are affordable. Nevertheless, it is important to note that affordability without knowledge will be ineffective.
Notably, patients with non-communicable diseases can continue being economically productive if they can afford medication when the diseases are in their early stages. The patients cannot continue staying in hospitals as this will not only congest hospitals but will also increase expenses for the concerned families.
In this regard, family care givers play a very crucial role in taking care of the patients. However, family care givers lack facilities to carry out their work. In the efforts to combat the effects of non-communicable diseases, several programs have been started to give support to family care givers both financial and otherwise (Frank, Juan, Diaz & Alpert 2010).
Having highlighted that proper food is a crucial part in the treatment of non-communicable diseases; it goes without saying that programs to reduce the effects of the diseases must begin by focusing on the diet of people. In this regard, steps have been taken to ensure that people will have access to adequate and nutritious food in order to reduce prevalence of diseases (Riegelman 2009). Moreover, policies and programs have been implemented to ensure that people practice sustainable agriculture so as to produce food that is safe for the health of nations.
Similarly, it has been found that there is need for continuous research in order to come up with new and effective drugs to treat various non-communicable diseases (Listinsky J, Siegel & Listinsky C 2011). This can be achieved through increasing finances allocated to research and development. Initiatives have been made to sustain the funding of patient centered research aimed at both treatment and management of the diseases.
The Alma-Ata declaration has highlighted why primary health care is very crucial in enhancing quality of health care in the world. Strengthening of the primary health care especially in developing countries is vital in reducing the effects and prevalence of non-communicable diseases (Steckler, McLeroy & Holtzman 2010). It means that disease prevention is given priority. This is also effective because it incorporates community members in the process of health care delivery especially in identifying risk factors and coming up with applicable solutions.
Challenges
There is no program that can be carried out smoothly without facing various challenges. There are several challenges that have been encountered in the efforts to combat non-communicable diseases. Arguably, the main challenge is related to financial problems. To begin with, most of the programs have to be carried out in developing nations where prevalence of these diseases has been reported to be high. Unfortunately, governments of these countries are unable to sufficiently fund these programs.
Consequently, it becomes a problem in reaching people in every part of the country and getting the required facilities (Adeyi, Smith & Robles 2007). This highly affects the effectiveness of the programs to counter non-communicable diseases.
Similarly, most people suffering from non-communicable diseases whether in developing or developed countries are poor and unable to afford the basic health services that are critical for the management of the diseases. This becomes a problem especially when it comes to buying the drugs needed to manage the disease or adhering to the prescribed diet. Moreover, poverty increases the period of time that elapses before a patient can seek specialized treatment thus worsening the situation (Ortleb & Cadice 1993).
Additionally, pollution of the environment has been associated with the increase in non-communicable diseases in the society. However, causes of pollution are increasing every day. Urbanization is taking place at an alarming rate in the world especially in developing nations. Besides leading to congestion and in ability to maintain a clean environment, this increases the rate of environmental pollution. Furthermore, every country is striving to become industrialized in the next decade or so (Voon, Mitchell & Liberman 2012).
Regrettably, not much is done to reduce the environmental pollution resulting from increased industries. Carbon emissions as well as greenhouse gas emissions are on the rise. All these increase the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and thus hindering efforts to counter the diseases.
Another challenge that faces efforts against non-communicable diseases is the poor health system in many areas, especially in developing nations. There are very few hospitals in developing nations and they are not properly equipped with facilities that are essential for diagnosis of non-communicable diseases. It therefore becomes difficult to detect people who are suffering from various diseases so that early treatment can be administered.
The matter is aggravated by the fact that there is poor infrastructure in these areas. Even in developed countries where health system is not that bad, health services are very expensive and unaffordable for most people (Richard, Witter & Brouwere 2010). This reduces access to health care which is essential in the fight against non-communicable diseases.
On the same note, the programs against non-communicable diseases have only been started in few urban areas even though there are many people in rural areas who suffer from a multiple of non-communicable diseases (Wilson, Merry & Franz 2012). Therefore, these programs reach people in urban areas while people in rural areas who are in dire need of the programs are left out. Measures need to be taken to ensure that programs against non-communicable diseases reach as great a number of people as possible.
Effectiveness of any program depends on reliability and availability of the necessary data. However, given the fragmentation of the health care sector in many nations, getting correct data about any situation is a problem facing the fight against non-communicable diseases (Youde 2013). In various parts of the world where no medical records are kept there is no information available about how many people die from non-communicable diseases.
On the same note, due to poor or ill-equipped health facilities, other patients die and their true cause of death is never established. This reduces the accuracy of the information available regarding non-communicable diseases thus hampering efforts to treat and manage the diseases. Low literacy levels also pose a challenge as it is very difficult to educate an illiterate person on the ways of preventing certain diseases (Blas & Kurup 2010).
Conclusion
The millennium development goals are highly dependent on health of people. Economic and social development can only be achieved if people remain productive for as long as it is humanly possible. We cannot afford to be complacent with the programs that have so far been put in place because they are inadequate. Information needs to be spread to the most remote parts of the world regarding non-communicable diseases, their effect on society and how they can be prevented.
If left uncontrolled, non-communicable diseases will increase in prevalence and that would not be safe for any nation and the globe at large. There is need to increase the research on non-communicable diseases and come up with cures if possible or better ways to manage them. Most importantly, it should be noted that this is not a war that can be fought by health professional alone. Each and every person is equally affected and we should therefore work together.
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