NCDs Will Continue To Trouble Brunei's Health Landscape In Years To Come

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ministry of Health anticipates that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus, being the top four causes of death here, will continue to trouble our health landscape in years to come, and will substantially impact Brunei's socioeconbmic development if not addressed effectively in a comprehensive manner.

This was stated by the Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Mohd Yusof at the opening ceremony of the in-country technical consultation on the development of a National Multi-Sectoral Plan for Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Control 2013-2018, which played out at The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Jerudong.

Speaking on children eating habits, the minister explained that children in Brunei are found to be consuming high amounts of saturated fats and sugary drinks, while their intake of fibre, fruit and vegetables is too low.

Meanwhile, preliminary results of Phase Two of a study already show that the number of obese adults has doubled since the last study 14 years ago, he said.

"In fact, 27 per cent of Bruneian adults are obese compared to the global percentage of 12 per cent," the minister added. "If we do nothing to change and if we don't encourage a healthy lifestyle (by eating healthier and doing sufficient/consistent physical activities) among our population (particularly our children), the obesity rate might multiply manifold by the next nutritional study and, unfortunately, so will the non-communicable diseases (NCDs)."

The minister further said that NCDs are largely preventable, and its prevention is the responsibility of the government as well as relevant stakeholders. Considerably more gains can be achieved by influencing policies of non-health sectors rather than by health policies alone.

"All stakeholders need to intensify and harmonise their efforts to avert these preventable conditions and to save the lives of our people from suffering needlessly and dying prematurely"

The minister explained that in formulating, planning and strengthening the country's NCD strategy, plan of action and responses, the ministry has in place several interventions and initiatives which are in line with the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) priorities in NCD prevention and control, namely the highest political commitment and acknowledgement on the importance of disease prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyles, a national committee on health promotion and health promotion blueprint, and the national physical activity guidelines for Brunei Darussalam.

Other measures include strengthening healthcare based on the principle of universal healthcare coverage that is accessible, affordable and equitable; the adoption of people-centered healthcare; and interventions to reduce the use of tobacco.

The minister also highlighted several challenges that contribute to the increasing prevalence of NCDs and their risk factors in Brunei. These include easy access and availability of processed and energy-dense food to the population through globalisation of trade and marketing; increasing sedentary lifestyles, especially given rapid urbanisation; an ageing population; increasing healthcare costs due to treatment and care of NCD which require new and rapidly changing technologies and more expensive medicines; and a need for more trained and highly-skilled healthcare professionals to address the complexity of NCDs - from prevention, promotion, treatment to rehabilitation aspects.

Civil society institutions and groups are uniquely placed to mobilise public awareness and support for NCD prevention and control efforts and to play a key role in supporting NCD programmes.

Businesses can make a decisively important contribution in addressing NCD prevention challenges. Responsible marketing to prevent the promotion of unhealthy diets and other harmful behaviour and product reformulation to promote access to healthier food options are examples of approaches and actions that should be implemented by the corporate sector.

"Measuring key areas of the NCD epidemic is crucial to reversing it. Specific measurable indicators must be adopted and used worldwide. NCD surveillance must be integrated into national health information systems."

Other challenges include the provision of enabling, innovative and promotive environments and approaches conducive for sustaining healthy lifestyle practices and healthy living, and the development and enforcement of related legislative measures and policies directed at the effective approaches in controlling the risk factors. ~ Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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