Source: Warning over escalating NCDs – herald
Rutendo Nyeve-Victoria Falls Reporter
GOVERNMENT has issued a warning regarding the escalating threat of non-communicable diseases, mainly in urban centres where a majority of people are engaged in a sedentary lifestyle and consume a lot of processed foods.
To curb this challenge, the Government is ramping up interventions ranging from fiscal measures to widespread health screening programmes.
The warning comes as health experts note a worrying shift in the disease burden from rural to urban populations.
Non-communicable diseases are medical conditions that are not infectious and cannot be passed from person to person. They are typically chronic and progress slowly.
The most prevalent NCDs in Zimbabwe include cardiovascular diseases (such as heart disease and hypertension), various forms of cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory conditions like arthritis.
Unlike malaria or HIV, these ailments are largely driven by lifestyle factors.
The primary dietary culprits identified are the high consumption of processed foods, which often contain excessive levels of unhealthy fats, salt, and sugar.
The convenience of “fast foods” and sugary beverages, common in urban settings, has been directly linked to obesity, a major risk factor for diabetes and heart disease.
In contrast, traditional diets rich in natural, whole foods, often still prevalent in rural areas, offer a protective effect against these conditions.
Speaking in Parliament last Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini, highlighted this development.
“The non-communicable diseases are indeed increasing. The reason is simply that lifestyle changes are taking place,” he said.
“As we get an increase in the middle class, we find that their food patterns change as well. If you go to the rural areas, they eat more natural food. You find that the disease burden there is less.
“However, as we get to our urban areas where people are eating more processed foods, you see that we are getting more and more of these non-communicable diseases.”
Deputy Minister Kwidini outlined the Government’s multi-pronged strategy to combat the scourge.
He highlighted legislative steps already taken, including the approval of taxes on sugar and fast food designed to discourage unhealthy consumption habits.
“This is actually to discourage our society from eating these foods because they contribute a lot to non-communicable diseases,” he said.
Furthermore, regulatory oversight is being tightened through the Food Standards Association, which mandates that all packaged foods clearly display nutritional content, including levels of protein, fat, sugar, and minerals.
“It’s a must that it be there. They also do the inspections and we administer the Act to make sure that companies are compliant with those regulations,” he said.
Beyond regulation, the ministry is strengthening its health outreach.
“We have outreach programmes as a ministry, where screening is done for these diseases so that treatment is instituted,” said the Deputy Minister.
He further revealed that in January, the ministry commissioned eight mobile health trucks to traverse the provinces, increasing access to screening for common cancers such as cervical, breast, and prostate cancer.
These outreaches combine health education with rapid testing, ensuring early detection and treatment. Through these combined efforts that include taxation, regulation and education, the Government aims to reverse the tide of NCDs and foster a more health-conscious population.
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