Africa’s disease burden to increase by more than 60%

The World Health Organisation has projected that by 2020, 73% of all deaths worldwide will be due to non- communicable diseases and that the burden of disease due to non-communicable diseases will rise by more than 60% in low income countries, including Uganda.

Health experts have asked African leaders to put in place uniform policies which will help reduce cases of non-communicable diseases on the continent.

An Indian-based consultant Nephrologist who is on a special visit to Uganda Dr. Sanjay Maitra says African governments should create awareness about the dangers of this upward trend.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 36 million people die each year from non-communicable diseases and nearly 80% of these are from low or middle-income countries.

Non communicable diseases, which have previously been considered diseases of the wealthy, are increasingly making their presence felt – even among the poorest of the world.

Written by Reporter