08 Nov 2017

Government continues to intensify efforts to fight Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) which currently exceed deaths caused by HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis combined.

Delivering the State of the Nation Address on November 6, President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama said the number of deaths caused by NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic diseases was on the rise.

He said government had come up with the 2017-2022 NCDs multi-sectoral strategy targeted at mitigating the lifestyle diseases.

President Khama highlighted that they were lifestyle diseases which required concerted efforts of individuals and communities.

He urged people to lead healthy lifestyles to reduce risk factors by engaging in physical activities, avoiding harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets and avoiding tobacco use.

He added that government was reviewing the Control of Smoking Act of 1992 with the aim of strengthening the protection of citizens.

On other issues, he said targeted interventions were in place to deal with youth alcohol abuse and substance abuse.

He said an inter-sectoral implementation of the alcohol campaign that involved government ministries and non-governmental organisations was implemented which included involvement of schools, Parent and Teachers Associations, the youth as well as conducting youth consultative forums targeted at building the character of the youth.

Furthermore, President Khama said alcohol and substance abuse were decreasing.

He said an evaluation of the national alcohol campaign had found that a share of expenditure on alcohol and tobacco had decreased at the national level but increased in rural areas.

He said the report showed that alcohol continued to have a negative impact on the health budget by increasing the costs of treating injuries associated with alcohol, adding that they were estimated at over P3 million for the 2016/2017 financial year.

He said alcohol abuse was also associated with increased domestic violence, theft, rape, murder, assaults as well as road traffic accidents.

He said the impact of road traffic accidents had led to the establishment of Emergency Medical Stores.

He said since 2012, eight centres were established which had reduced mortalities.

On the Alcohol Levy, President Khama said the levy had raised just over P2.6 billion since inception.

He said the levy had coincided with a decrease in household expenditure on tobacco and alcohol consumption at the national level. 

He said plans were at an advanced stage to have an in-patient alcohol and substance rehabilitation centre in Serowe. ENDS