Malawi In World Diabetes Foundation Project

Assistant Director of Clinical Services responsible for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) in the Ministry of Health and Population says NCDs will soon surpass communicable diseases if people do not take preventive measures.

Hastings Chiumia made the remarks during orientation of District Executive Committee members in Chiradzulu on World Diabetes Foundation Project which the Ministry, in collaboration with Partners in Health, will implement in the district.

Chiumia attributed the increase to smoking, alcohol consumption and lack of physical exercises among other contributing factors.

“Most partners are interested in communicable diseases like malaria, tuberculosis and HIV and Aids, leaving out diabetes, hypertension and asthma,” he said

Chiumia said people should stop associating NCDs with rich people saying anybody can suffer from the diseases.

He said the project is aimed at sensitizing people how to prevent NCDs and will run in 13 districts of the southern region.

Chiradzulu has been allocated K2.9 million for the project as the district has registered 6, 000 cases of diabetes as of June 30, 2019.