Dr. Pascal Lanuois from the WHO said that non-communicable diseases still pose serious problems at the world level. The burden caused by such diseases increases from year to year.
“The prevalence of non-communicable diseases keeps increasing every year,” said Pascal on Thursday (3/3) in the Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) 2016 at Faculty of Medicine UGM.
WHO data in 2012 recorded as high as 38 millions of peope died due to non-communicable diseases of the total 56 millions in annual mortality. Most of them are caused by cancer, cardiovascular, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes. “At least 82 percent of deaths related to non-communicable diseases are due to cancer, cardiovascular, chronic respiratory problem, and diabetes,” Pascal explained.
Director for Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases in the Health Ministry, dr. Lily S Sulistyowati, M.M., said the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases was due to the unhealthy lifestyles. Healthy lifestyles, of course, can prevent these diseases.
Lily said promotive and preventive efforts were important to do to minimise such diseases, including by having good diet.
“A balanced diet can prevent non-communicable diseases,” she said. Besides, health checks have to be done regularly, and avoiding smoke exposure, having enough rest, exercising a minimum of 30 minutes a day as well as doing stress management.
Non-communicable diseases as well as infections such as helminthiasis, filariasis, and schistosomiasis were relatively ignored in the era of MDGs 2015. At that time, programme was focused on HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and the health of mother and child. In other words, Indonesia failed to meet the MDGs target.
“Of 67 indicators of MDGs, only 48 have been met while the other 19 programmes have been not,” said Dr. Ir. Subandi Sardjoko, M.Sc., Deputy Head for Human Development, Society and Culture in the National Development Planning (BAPPENAS).
Subandi said of the 19 unmet programmes, some 12 were related to health, including nutrition, mortality in mother and baby, and sanitation. Efforts will be made in order that those can be well implemented in SDGs 2016-2030.
Meanwhile, chairman of alumni association of Faculty of Medicine UGM, Dr. dr. Sugiri Syarief, MPA., said the organising of ASM this time was coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the faculty, fourth anniversary of UGM academic hospital, and 34th anniversary of dr. Sardjito General Hospital. Themed Starting Sustainable Development Goals by Addressing Non-Communicable Disease and Neglected Tropical Diseases, this event is expected to contribute to the implementation of SDGs, particularly in terms of management and policy making.