11 January, 2021 (232news)
FREETOWN- FoRUT, a leading national non-governmental organization that is working with state and non-state actors on alcohol, drugs and development, accountability and right issues has recently supported the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) in the implementation of Non-Communicable Disease Strategic Plan 2020-2024.
The organization (FoRUT) has a solid working relationship with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation) through the NCD MH Directorate to control alcohol and drug misuse through mobilization and policy and legislative review.
The Directorate of Non-Communicable Disease and Mental Health (NCD MH) which was established in 2017 focuses in tackling the risk factors of NCDs and Mental Health through prevention and Physiotherapy/Rehabilitation.
November this year, the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie launched the NCD Policy and Strategic Plan 2020- 2023 and the Findings and Recommendations from the Non-Communicable Disease, Injury (NCDI) and Poverty Commission of Sierra Leone.
The said explained that alcohol misuse is a causative risk factor for NCDs including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.
He said in their drive to solicit supports from other MDAs and development partners on the effective implementation of the NCD Policy and Strategic Plan, the NCD – MH Directorate with funding from FoRUT conducted a regional level popularization of the newly launched NCD-Policy and Strategic Plan 2020 – 2024. The engagements were conducted in the regional headquarter towns of Kenema, Bo, Bombali and Port Loko and targeted officials from the respective District Councils, DHMT, District Education Offices, Ministries of Agriculture, Social Welfare, the Sierra Leone Police, CSOs, the financial institutions, ONS, Africell, Orange, QCel and the host Paramount Chiefs.
Trainees on Maternal and Child Health Aide and State Enrolled Community Health Nurse were also reached in their respective training schools in the district Headquarter towns.
Dr. Santigie Sesay, the Director of NCD MH of MoHS was the lead facilitator of the event.
Dr. Santigie Sesay said the NCDs are closely linked to poverty and contribute to further poverty through high health costs and loss of bread winners. Every year there are 41 million NCD deaths which highlight 71% of all global deaths. It is estimated 9,700 lives can be saved in Sierra Leone by 2025 by implementing WHO “best buys”, which are cost-effective and evidence-based NCD interventions.
He furthered that a lot of people don’t know about the NCD risk factors and that PHUs should be given the data on NCDs fore the government to know the gaps on where to intervene on NCD issues.
Edward Fatorma, a Civil Society Activist in Bo city pointed out that teenagers and youth are more involved in alcohol, tobacco and drugs misuse.
He added that schools should be targeted to continue to raise awareness on alcohol, drug and tobacco misuse and their implications to children and youth health and livelihood. This was also supported by Kadiatu Bangura who is a nurse working in Makeni.
A member of Port Loko District Council encouraged the Ministry of Health to support the DHMT to include NCD issues during in-charges meetings so as to roll up sensitization at PHU and Catchment levels on NCD Risk factors.
It was also revealed by one Councilor in Kenema that the Ministry of Health should support local initiatives on the formation of NCD task force at district and even chiefdom level to serve as a platform for the effective implementation of the NCD Strategic Plan.
