Myanmar Times -9 Nov 2017
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are to establish a national alliance to further consolidate their efforts in fighting the health scourge afflicting tens of thousands of people.
Dr Phone Myint, general secretary of the non-government People’s Health Foundation, said that “as an initial step, we met the organizations which are working for the prevention of NCDs in the country. And we discussed the activity and processes of each organization.”
Earlier in the week, a meeting to establish the NCD alliance was held at People’s Health Foundation and over 10 NGOs attended the event. Those present agreed that an alliance will be formed, he said.
“We hope to establish the NCD alliance in Myanmar because collaboration among groups is much better than doing it alone. We aim to expand and to raise awareness in the communities about NCDs,” said Dr Phone Myint.
Non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, maternal health and neurological disorder are now widely recognized as a major challenge to public health.
“We will make more effective programs and activities by forming the alliance. Also, we will be able to help the health ministry’s NCDs program. “Anybody can suffer NCDs. Some people have knowledge about it but some don’t have. The important thing is to know more about NCDs and raise the awareness in the community about these diseases,” he said.
U Maung Maung, from the Myanmar Consumer Union who attended the meeting said, “in my opinion, the idea to organize NCD alliance is good as the alliance will be formed with experts, including medical specialists.”
“We are eating unhealthy diet. It is not a healthy lifestyle. So it is important to raise people’s awareness about these diseases and how to prevent them,” he said.
Daw Soe Soe, 46, from Yangon, said, “I’m suffering from diabetes since three years ago. At first, I don’t care about my disease although I know that I have diabetes. Now, I have to take the medicines every day and avoid surgery foods even though I like it. I think people should take care of their health while they are young.”
The World Health Organization said that in 2014, 59 percent of total deaths in Myanmar was due to non-communicable diseases.
The UN body said 30pc of the total deaths in the country are due to communicable diseases, maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions; 11 pc are due to injuries; 25pc are due to cardiovascular diseases; 11pc are due to cancer; nine percent are due to chronic respiratory diseases; three percent are due to diabetes; and 11pc are due to other non-communicable diseases.
