A roadmap for tackling NCD’s and linked diseases, but was it implemented and is anyone paying attention?
In my past voluntary teaching days in Thailand my students were often puzzled and amused when explaining the meaning of commonly used English idioms.
One such idiom, “Talking until you are blue in the face.” was especially amusing and not readily understood.
I explained the meaning of the often quoted idiom as speaking about something repeatedly and at length when one is not being heeded or listened to.
The idiom came to mind this week in relation to something Prime Minister Sogavare said to the visiting Saudi Envoy to Honiara.
According to an article in the Solomon Star newspaper, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare recently received a courtesy visit from the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the Solomon Islands His Excellency Mesaad Ibrahim Al-Sulaim at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
H.E Al-Sulaim used the opportunity to reaffirm Saudi Arabia’s commitment to assist the Solomon Islands in its development aspirations, a statement from the Prime Minister Press Secretariat said.
The Ambassador stated that Saudi Arabia is committed to strengthening the relationship between both countries.
Acknowledging climate change impacts as a strong concern for the Solomon Islands and other small island countries, the Prime Minister reiterated the urgent need to continue the fight against NCDs in the country.
“The fight against the impacts of climate change is so close to our hearts and while we have a great concern with its impacts in our country and to our pacific neighbours, we are also concerned with the high number of deaths caused by NCDs.” he stated.
According to the International Journal of Health Sciences, Saudi Arabia with a population of over 32 million also suffers from the so-called diseases of civilization such as NCD’s.
While Saudi Arabia has effectively controlled infectious diseases and infant child mortality, NCD’s are yet to be contained with obesity and related heart disease exacting a heavy toll on Saudi’s population.
Perhaps Saudi Arabia will be able to offer some guidance to the Solomon Islands on how to tackle the rate of NCD illnesses in the Solomons.
Prime Minister Sogavare has often raised the issue of NCD’s at home but seemingly still not being listened to as he should and in circumstances that demand he should.
Let me explain further.
Last September, the PM told a roundtable conference on NCD’s in Honiara that while climate change was an urgent development challenge addressing NCD’s was more urgent.
He went on to say that by 2050 the number of NCD related illnesses in the country would cost US$60 million dollars annually and 216, 000 people suffering from diabetes
He commented, quote:
“But if the incidence of diabetes was reduced by 1.5 percent each year until 2050, the estimated cost of managing diabetes in the country would be more like $US14 million,” he said.
He called for a "roadmap" to be devised to halt and reverse the NCD crises.
“The roadmap needed to clearly define the roles of each stakeholder, the interventions they are responsible for, the budgets that need to be provided in their respective ministries, agencies or organisations, and the indicators to measure progress,” the PM concluded.
The commonly accepted meaning of a roadmap is one in which a strategy is stated leading to a particular goal.
Such a ‘roadmap’ was raised and discussed in 2013 at a meeting in Honiara with Pacific Forum Economic Ministers and Pacific Health Ministers who committed to taking proactive actions against the growing health and economic impact of the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) crisis in Pacific Island Countries.
At their joint meeting, the Economic and Health Ministers endorsed a joint statement with concrete actions to address NCDs.
“We have an opportunity to make a significant difference in addressing NCDs,” said then Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo. in his opening remarks to the joint meeting. “Let us be bold to try new things, and to do more than what we have done before; as outlined in our NCD roadmap.”
Mr. Lilo went on to say, “Countries can use the NCD Roadmap to strengthen their own plans of action so they are achievable, affordable, and suited to local contexts. The report provides more than 30 actions countries can implement with key suggestions being around improving preventive measures, increasing taxation and regulatory control to reduce consumption of tobacco and food and drinks high in fat, salt and/or sugar that leads to obesity, heart disease and diabetes.”
The NCD Roadmap Report was developed at the request of the Forum Economic Ministers meeting in 2013.
The Roadmap was prepared jointly by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Aid Programme, the World Bank and the World Health Organization.
The NCD Roadmap showed a commitment by Pacific Island Governments and development partners to work together to fight the crisis.
The roadmap strategy was formulated as part of a continued commitment in the Pacific region to promote healthy lifestyles and protect health.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
