BURDEN OF DISEASE

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 77% of NCD deaths are in low- and middle-income countries. Cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, or 17.9 million people annually, followed by cancers (9.3 million), chronic respiratory diseases (4.1 million), and diabetes (2.0 million including kidney disease deaths caused by diabetes). These four groups of diseases account for over 80% of all premature NCD deaths.

The rise in NCDs in Africa places a tremendous social and economic burden on communities. Increased urbanization, rising poverty, weak health systems, weak policy guidelines, poor health seeking behaviour and socio-cultural factors pose challenges for NCDs prevention, management and control in sub-Saharan Africa.

Children, adults, and elderly are all vulnerable to the risk factors contributing to NCD. Tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets and air pollution all increase the risk of dying from an NCD. Detection, screening, and treatment of NCDs, as well as palliative care, are key components of Monti’s research response to NCDs.

Our research focus is aligned to the South African National Research Strategy priorities in ensuring that our research:

• Uses cost-effective interventions aimed at reducing the burden of disease.
• Avails the human and institutional resources for the implementation of interventions at the level closest to the affected communities.
• Priorities the health needs of vulnerable groups such as woman, older persons, children, and people with disabilities; and Consider the health needs of the communities within which we operate.