The Ministry of Health Zanzibar expects to conduct a special national survey of indicators of non-communicable diseases (NCD Steps Surrvey) by September 9 this year with the aim of preparing strategies to see that these diseases decrease.
Giving information to the press, Deputy Minister of Health Zanzibar, Hassan Khamis Hafidh, said, the study will affect a total of 540 households that, using professional research guidelines, were the lucky ones to be selected and included in this study, in the case of Pemba, the total number of households 180 and Unguja are 360 households will be approached and interviewed.
However, he said that the country’s leaders continue to take concrete steps to invest more in the health sector for the benefit of Tanzanians.
In addition, he said that the situation of non-communicable diseases has continued to be a threat to human well-being worldwide. In Zanzibar, the condition of these diseases has also been increasing year by year.
He said that the aim of the research is to be able to assess the state of health in relation to the risk indicators and the trend of non-communicable diseases in this country, where he said that a similar study was carried out in 2011 here in Zanzibar and in 2012 it was carried out in Mainland Tanzania where Zanzibar was the first country to carry out such a study this in the East African region.
He said the results of the study for Tanzania Mainland, the results of the study in 2011 were not good, where the risk factors of non-communicable diseases indicated that the state of diabetes reached 3.7 percent and high blood pressure disease was 33 percent.
In addition, risk indicators such as overweight reached 14.3 percent, and the number of people who use cigarettes within the study period was 7.3 percent, who use alcohol 1.7 percent and people who were involved in exercise and engaging in less than they should were 17.6 percent. The study showed that 97.9 percent of the people were not eating vegetables and fruits at the appropriate level.
“Currently the situation may have a different image and that is the main reason for re-doing this research” he said.
In addition, he said that this is part of the ministry’s plan to strengthen health services, especially considering that non-communicable diseases including diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, mouth and teeth have been leading the number of deaths.
Thus, he asked the journalists to inform the people that this national research on the indicators of non-communicable diseases (NCDs steps survey) is being done together in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
And, Manager of the Division of Non-Communicable Diseases Dr. Omar Mohamed Suleiman, he said, the exercise will be done professionally where among the issues that will be asked is the consumption of food and drinks.
Thus, he asked the citizens to continue to cooperate with the Ministry of Health to see that these diseases become history in the country
