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Countries that have well developed primary health care systems are known to have better health outcomes, fewer people in hospital , increased patient satisfaction and lower costs, says Bob Mash.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – including cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental illness, and respiratory conditions – have come to dominate the global burden of death and disability, yet attract less than 2% of all global health funding.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) impose a growing burden on the health, economy, and development of South Africa.
Comparing dysglycaemia prevalence (impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), or diabetes) in HIV-infected persons, stratified by antiretroviral therapy (ART), with a community-based survey (CBS) in Cape Town, South Africa.

South Africa is a country in nutrition and economic transition. Undernutrition, particularly stunting and micronutrient deficiencies, coexist with overweight and obesity, which have been on the rise over the past few decades. The dual nature of malnutrition in South Africa comes with a complex series of epidemiological and health care challenges. Overweight and obesity are associated with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, amongst others. In the context of food insecurity and the HIV pandemic which has been estimated to affect 2.4 % of children aged between 0 and 14 years, undernutrition persists, particularly among young children. Both forms of malnutrition are driven by factors which are biological, behavioural, societal and structural.
The CDIA has welcomed the announcement by Discovery Fund to award the CDIA R2 million for a further two years, enabling the organisation to continue its programme of research in the health services - where help is most needed.
November 2014
GRAND South is a network of 11 centres in Asia, Africa and Latin America working in research, building capacity and developing policy to reduce the burden of NCD. This network of centres was created from a collaborative initiative, ‘Combating Chronic Disease in Developing Countries – Partners in Progress’, between National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHBLI) and United Health Group in 2009. CDIA is a member of this network. You are invited to join the GRAND South community and follow the group on Facebook and Twitter.
The Inclusive Healthcare Innovation Summit held earlier this year in Cape Town did more than just connect major role players in the healthcare sector – it put innovation at the top of the healthcare agenda and paved the way for real results and tangible solutions.
“It is crucial that South Africans are made aware of how much salt they are consuming in their diet and how this is affecting their health,” says Professor Krisela Steyn, Associate Director of the Chronic Diseases Initiative in Africa (CDIA). “In South Africa between 35% and 40% of the salt in our diet comes from discretionary use, so the salt is added either to the food on the plate or during cooking. In most Western countries it is only about 15%.”
“Smoking is already the second most important risk factor for death worldwide, right behind hypertension.”
· Prominent members of SA’s medical fraternity have thrown their weight behind the iChange4Health initiative targeted at the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The initiative provides healthcare providers with an innovative package of resources to use in counselling their patients about lifestyle modification in order to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. The resource package was researched and developed by the Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa (CDIA) with support from the Cancer Association of SA and in partnership with leading local generics manufacturer, Pharma Dynamics.
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