By Nformi Sonde Kinsai
At least 43 percent of registered deaths Cameroon are caused by diet-related Non-communicable Diseases, University Professor Emeritus, Jean Claude Mbanya, has disclosed.
This was in keynote presentation on April 8 in Yaoundé that flagged open a two-day first-ever National Symposium and Round-Table for Action ona Chronic NCDs organized by Reconciliation and Development Association, RADAc, themed “Nutrition and NCDs.”
Talking on “The Burden of Diet-Related NCDs in Cameroon,” Mbanya, also the President of the Scientific Committee, declared diet is one of the leading causes of deaths. He said the burden goes beyond individual health as it leads to premature deaths, affecting the economy as it results to increases in healthcare costs and drop in productivity; as well as playing against development as a whole for it threatens progress and growth.
Globally, he stated that 74 percent of deaths are linked to diet-related NCDs and recording as much as 80 percent in Low- and Medium-Income Countries, LMICs. To him, diet remains a major driver of NCDs as high sugar intake leads to obesity, diabetes and dental diseases.
Urging the need for prevention and control in Cameroon, he said mortality for major disease conditions in the country for all age groups are linked to diet-related NCDs. Twenty nine percent of the deaths are not only as a result of cardiovascular diseases but hypertension as well, he said adding that, cancers caused by diet-related NCDS represent 16 percent diabetes and chronic kidney diseases 11 percent; transport and injuries seven percent and others eight percent.
He said children between five and 19 in Cameroon are overweight compared 15.1 percent obeyed adults. He emphasized that the nutrition environment explains why many Cameroonians live with diabetes without treatment because children have easy accessibility to sugar and fatty foods.
Also, aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages and the use of the media for branding and promotion, to him are contributors. On social determinants, he mentioned poverty that limits access to healthy food choices, emergence of urban lifestyles; unequal access to healthy life with its health, economic and inequality toll.
To curb, he urged the need for education policy on what to eat and what to avoid. “We cannot expect individuals to make healthy choices in unhealthy environment,” Prof. Mbanya argued.
“We have best policies on paper which are not being implemented.” He added.
Cameroon ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control but more than 15 years after, a tobacco control law is yet to see the light of day in the country.
At the event, WHO Country Representative, Dr. Magaran Monzon Bagayoko appreciated Cameroon’s efforts for putting in place the Universal Health Coverage policy which aims at quality health for all irrespective their status. He said despite the efforts, there are enormous challenges and one of them is combating NCDs.
The Board Chair of RADA, Dr. Evaristus Acha Tikum said their initiative advocates for a health tax increase on sweetened drinks and other unhealthy packaged food products based on the evidence for public and development benefits in reduced consumption for the prevention and control of NCDs in Cameroon.