… Create Awareness for People to Engage in Physical Activities
… As NCDs Kill 41 Million People Each Year
Dr. Walter Kazadi, the World Health Organization’s Country Representative, has said that the worldwide burden of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is increasing due to a lack of physical activity.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) claim the lives of 41 million people each year, accounting for 71% of all deaths worldwide.
More than 15 million people between the ages of 30 and 69 die each year from an NCD, with 85 percent of these “premature” deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
Low- and middle-income nations account for 77% of all NCD mortality.
Kazadi gave this hint during the third edition of the of walk the talk: The Health for All Challenge” organized by the World Health Organization Nigeria office in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, partners and public.
According to him: ” Today, we are here to create awareness for people to engage in physical activities. To bring everybody to know about NCDs and it’s effect.
“Globally, the burden of Non Communicable Diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer and chronic disease are growing due to lack of physical activities.
“We do it once a year on the side to kick off World Health Assembly. Health Assembly that is starting tomorrow. We want to add our contribution to that global campaign for everyone to become active as part of our effort to beat NCDs.
“This is what we should be doing everyday for at least half an hour if we are to beat NCD”, he said.
It is worthy of note that, the Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.
The main types of NCD are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
NCDs disproportionately affect people in low- and middle-income countries where more than three quarters of global NCD deaths – 31.4 million – occur.
Detection, screening and treatment of NCDs, as well as palliative care, are key components of the response to NCDs.
