BY STYLE REPORTER
Non-communicable diseases are one of the biggest public health challenges causing 16 million premature deaths annually, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Four main groups of non-communicable diseases — cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes — account for 82% of all non-communicable diseases-linked deaths.
WHO says two-thirds of premature deaths in adults globally are associated with childhood conditions and behaviours, and behaviour associated with NCD risk factors is common in young people — over 150 million young people smoke; 81% adolescents don’t get enough physical activity; 11.7% of adolescents partake in heavy episodic drinking and 41 million children under 5 years old are overweight or obese.
In light of this, the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS), with the support of the Danish Red Cross, are on a non-communicable diseases awareness drive targeting schools and tertiary institutions in a bid to empower young people with both knowledge and skills on how to manage their conditions and encouraging young people to adopt healthy lifestyles.
Spearheaded by the ZRCS youth through a three-year youth sexual and reproductive health rights with a component on non-communicable diseases, the project, among other things, also aims at creating environments that are favourable for youths to adopt healthy lifestyles, such as participating in sports and balanced and healthy diet.
Last week ZRCS youth belatedly commemorated the World Health Day, which ran under the theme A fairer and healthier world, through a number of activities involving Red Cross youth clubs at Bindura University of Science Education in Mashonaland Central province and Midlands State University (MSU) in Gweru.
“Our project is aimed at disseminating information on empowering young people both with knowledge and skills on how to manage non-communicable diseases and encourage young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle. This commemoration was and is one of the many initiatives they are conducting,” said ZRCS secretary-general Elias Hwenga.
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Hwenga said ZRCS collaborated with the Midlands Diabetes Interest Group, Red Cross Clinic, Ministry of Health, Midlands State University and other stakeholders to set up a fly-by type of exhibition where they were raising awareness on non-communicable diseases, conducting tests such as breast cancer self-check, blood pressure, diabetes test and body mass index, among others.
“High impact non-communicable diseases interventions can be delivered through a primary health care approach to strengthen early detection and timely treatment. Evidence shows such interventions are sustainable economic investments because, if provided early to patients, they can reduce the need for more expensive treatment,” said Hwenga.
Midlands State University Red Cross Club chairperson Panashe Mangozhe welcomed the initiative saying it brought crucial services to students.
“Non-communicable diseases are known as old people’s diseases, but this is not true. There is an increase of young people being diagnosed with diseases such as diabetes but due to lack of knowledge, most are not able to manage their conditions and thus succumb when it could have been avoided,” said Mangozhe, who is also a medical student at MSU.
ZRCS Youth Development coordinator June Munyongani said most of the resources were being channelled to the Covid-19 response at the expense of non-communicable diseases.
“Global focus is now on communicable diseases such as Covid-19 giving little attention to non-communicable diseases. This intervention is very unique and powerful as students are equipped with knowledge on management and prevention of non-communicable diseases right at their doorstep,” Munyongani said.
He said students at some primary and secondary schools in Karoi, Chinhoyi and Kariba in Mashonaland West province the previous week benefited from a similar awareness programme while schools in Gweru, Harare, Bindura and Kwekwe would be visited in the near future.
An arts festival, aimed at raising non-communicable diseases awareness, is on the cards for students in the Midlands, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central provinces where the ZRCS is implementing the youth projects.
Non-communicable diseases kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally.
