3 October 2016 - The World Health Organization (WHO) in Uganda made a presentation on the burden of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) to the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Uganda under the theme “Non-Communicable Diseases: An Epidemic in Revolution”. The meeting was hosted by World Food Program at their offices in Kampala.

The WHO NCD Focal point Dr. Hafisa Kasule, made the presentation on behalf of WHO highlighting the Global trend of NCD burden, which shows that there is an increase of the NCD burden in low income countries at 25 million deaths reported in 2015 and estimated to shoot to 27 million by 2030.

According Health Management Information System (HMIS) surveillance, the NCD burden in Uganda, is on the rise. For instance in Outpatient Department (OPD), High blood pressure (hypertension) increased from 60,000 cases between 2012-2013 to 85,000 cases between 2015-2016; an increase of 42% in just three years. Diabetes case registered in OPD increased by 7% from 30,000 to 32,000 over the same period.

Obesity, tobacco use, poor nutrition and high blood pressure were highlighted as some of the major modifiable risk factors fueling the escalating NCD epidemic in Uganda.

A national NCD risk factor survey conducted in 2014 showed that screening for cancer of the cervix, the leading cause of cancer death in Uganda, was only 10% among women aged 30-49 years.  Furthermore the survey revealed that 10% of Ugandans aged 18-69 years have at least three risk factors for NCDs with 20% aged 45-69 years having more than three risk factors.

The WHO Global Action plan for the prevention and control of Non Communicable diseases 2013-2020, focuses on prevention and control of the four modifiable risk factors including tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet rich in saturated fats and refined sugars and low in vegetables and fruits and physical inactivity. These four risk factors lead to four intermediate physiological factors which are overweight/obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and raised blood glucose/diabetes. These risk factors ultimately lead to four diseases cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic lung diseases and diabetes, which account for 82% of global death due to NCDs. NCDs also caused 68% (38/56 million) deaths in 2012 which was greater than death due to all other causes combined.

The UNCT recognized the global and local threat of NCDs and agreed to work together in a coordinated manner to support multi-sectoral action by government for prevention and control of NCD. in Uganda. The UNCT is comprised of  Country Representatives of all the United Nations Agencies in Uganda.