Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has expressed his concern over the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases in South Africa.
"Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for more deaths and illenesses worldwide than any other cause. Despite the fact that in South Africa HIV and AIDS related deaths and illnesses predominate, the numbers of people living with and dying from NCDs is simultaneously rapidly increasing. Concerted action across all sectors is needed to address this growing problem," said the Health Minister, announcing the National Summit on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases due to be held in Johannesburg on Monday and Tuesday next week.
NCDs are assuming alarming proportions in South Africa and they account for a large number of deaths, increasing the diseases burden in the country.
A lot of these diseases are attributable to life-style issues which include regular exercise, diet, tobacco use and abuse of alcohol. "The call we are making out to the public is a simple one: people need to adopt healthy life-style practices such as regular exercise, eating healthy (and limit salt and fat) and not use tobacco at all. Through these simple yet important measures we can prevent a number of diseases such as diabetes and hypertension for instance,"said Motsoaledi.
The global burden caused by NCDs has prompted the United Nations to convene a high-level meeting of the Global Assembly on 19 to 20 September 2011 in New York and participants to the meeting will include Heads of State, Ministers and other senior representatives of governments.
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Cell: 079 517 3333
