Moreover, NCDs generate considerable needs in essential drugs, psychosocial support and require organizational adjustments in health services and systems. These conditions are rarely met and as a result, NCDs are less effectively managed in primary health care facilities by staff who is ill prepared. This creates weaker accessibility, greater inequity and inappropriate management of patients with NCDs. Many NCDs share some behavioural, environmental or genetic risk factors. Major risk factors that are amenable to preventive measures, are smoking, obesity, and high alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity, diabetes mellitus and lipid disorders.
Hypertension is the most frequent and important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
Its prevalence is estimated to be around 20 million in the Region. Complications of untreated hypertension include heart failure, chronic renal failure, stroke and coronary heart disease. Hypertension related stroke rate is high in the Region and victims are relatively young. Rheumatic heart disease is still frequent despite the availability of several potential cost-effective measures for preventing rheumatic fever. Public health consequences of ill-managed diabetes like kidney failure, coronary heart disease, blindness, diabetic foot and coma are high.