Government Recognizes Formidable Challenges of NCDs – MoH
The Government has acknowledged
the formidable challenges posed by Non-Communicable
Diseases (NCDs), reaffirming its commitment to combat the growing public
health threat through coordinated national and international efforts.
Speaking during the launch of the Implementation Science for
Non-Communicable Diseases (IS4NCDs) Consortium, Health Permanent Secretary for Donor Coordination, Dr. George Sinyangwe,
said the government recognizes the significant burden that NCDs place on the
health system and the economy.
Delivering a speech on behalf of Dr.
Sinyangwe, Ministry of Health Acting
Director for Public Health, Dr. Matilda Simpungwe, said government
initiatives such as the Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Action Plan for the Control and
Prevention of NCDs reflect Zambia’s ongoing commitment to reducing the
impact of NCDs.
Dr. Sinyangwe noted that the National Health Strategic Plan (2022–2026)
aims to reduce NCD-related deaths through multi-sectoral prevention strategies and capacity-building at the primary healthcare level.
He added that Zambia has made
progress in implementing supportive policies, including the 2018 Alcohol Policy and the ongoing
efforts to enact the Tobacco Control
Bill.
“We urge citizens to adopt healthier
lifestyles. Despite the policies and interventions in place, NCDs remain a
major concern due to changing socioeconomic conditions that have led many to
adopt unhealthy habits,” Dr. Sinyangwe emphasized.
The Permanent Secretary commended
the IS4NCDs Consortium,
describing it as a timely initiative that will train the next generation of
health professionals — equipping them with not only medical knowledge but also
the practical skills to translate
science into action.
Meanwhile, Copperbelt University Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation,
Professor Bernard Hango’mbe, represented by Professor Ephraim Munshifwa, Director for the University’s Lusaka
Campus, said the launch of IS4NCDs marks a landmark moment for Zambia’s public health landscape and the
broader Southern African region.
Professor Hango’mbe expressed
appreciation to the European Union (EU)
for its support, highlighting that the IS4NCDs project directly confronts the
stark reality of the rising number of NCD-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa and Zambia.
The launch brought together experts
from leading European and African institutions, including Utrecht University, Ludwig-Maximilian University, and the Institute of Tropical Medicine,
alongside African partners from the
University of the Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch
University, Copperbelt
University, and the University
of Zambia.
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