Zambia asks Commonwealth to lead disease campaign
ZAMBIA has called on the Commonwealth to pool resources for a collective campaign against Non Communicable Diseases, (NCD) Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya has said.
Dr Chilufya said Zambia was experiencing an epidemiological transition culminating in a complex dual burden of disease of Communicable and Non Communicable Diseases.
In a statement, Dr Chilufya said this during the Commonwealth Ministers of health meeting on Non Communicable Diseases and Universal Health Coverage on the sidelines of the 71st World Health Assembly which opened yesterday in Switzerland, Geneva.
Dr Chilufya said the Patriotic Front Government has adopted the Health in all Policy summoning all sectors to consider the health of citizens as central in policy making.
Dr Chilufya further said Zambia is a state party to the World Health Organisation (WHO) framework convention on tobacco control (FCTC) and has crafted a bill on tobacco products control.
He said Cancer control programs will further be enhanced targeting cervical, breast, prostate and retinoblastoma.
Meanwhile Zambia has reaffirmed its support for priority recommendations made in confronting NCDs in the Commonwealth.
“We have reengineered the health sector to introduce the Directorate of Health Promotion Environment and Social Determinants which is mandated to craft appropriate health promoting messages to empower people to avoid risks.
“NCDs have placed a heavy burden on our health systems and result in loss of productivity, premature deaths and poverty and Zambia has undertaken steps survey to establish a baseline and platform for NCD risk factors,” said Dr Chilufya.