Health experts are issuing a dire warning that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) could emerge as the next global pandemic post-COVID-19 if prompt action is not taken.
Annually, over 94,000 deaths are attributed to NCDs like diabetes, hypertension, kidney failure, and cancers, yet current efforts to combat this silent crisis are deemed inadequate.
At the JoyNews National Dialogue on NCDs, experts emphasized the urgent need for proactive government intervention.
Prof. Gordon Abekah-Nkrumah, from the University of Ghana Business School’s Department of Health Services Management, stressed a multidimensional approach to tackling NCDs.
He underscored the necessity of robust regulations and policies to address the underlying causes of these diseases.
“NCDs are the next pandemic. How are we communicating this to the elites who have the power to make decisions when it comes to resource allocation, such as the Ministry of Finance and cabinet?
“Do they see NCDs as the next COVID, which may necessitate the President addressing the nation every fortnight and holding meetings all over the place?
“The way we package this message and align it with their own incentives, in terms of how this determines their electoral fortunes, will be very important,” Prof. Abekah-Nkrumah stated.
Effectively conveying the severity of NCDs and their potential impact on public health and the economy is essential for mobilizing support and resources. Dr. Kwasi Boahene, Director of Health Systems at PharmAccess, painted a bleak picture of Ghana’s NCD landscape, projecting annual expenditures of approximately six billion dollars by 2030 to address these chronic ailments.
The consensus among health experts is clear: immediate, strategic interventions are imperative to prevent NCDs from evolving into the next pandemic. This calls for comprehensive policies and persuasive engagement with decision-makers.