SADC focuses on health burden

2008-11-17 07:58

Johannesburg - Ministers of Health from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) over the weekend highlighted the importance of addressing non-communicable diseases, commonly referred to as lifestyle diseases, in recognition of the increasing burden they pose in the region.

During their meeting in Durban, which ended on Sunday, the ministers in this regard reaffirmed the commemoration of the region's first SADC Healthy Lifestyle Day in February 2009.

The meeting, chaired by South African Health Minister Barbara Hogan, was aimed at reviewing progress made in the implementation of the SADC Health Programme, and to consider strategic policy frameworks for addressing health challenges facing the region.

Policy frameworks were also approved, more particularly on HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, malaria, support for orphans, and sexual and reproductive health.

The meeting noted that there was significant progress in the area of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/Aids and anti-retroviral therapy programmes.

All SADC health ministers reaffirmed their commitment to address outstanding challenges to improve the provision of health services and meet global and continental commitments, also highlighting the importance of health research.

This was to inform and design evidence-based interventions, and to develop new prevention technologies and new treatment.

With regard to malaria, member states continued to scale up implementation of their malaria programmes.

To date, 12 member states were said to be using indoor residual spraying as a prevention strategy and have increased the provision and use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets.

- SAPA