Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
NON-COMMUNICABLE diseases continue to pose a significant health challenge in Manicaland, with unhealthy lifestyles and daily choices largely driving the burden.
Provincial Medical Director, Dr Munyaradzi Mukuzunga, said NCDs are complex conditions influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental and behavioural factors.
Speaking recently at the Public Service Retirement Conference, he said unlike communicable diseases which are passed from one person to another, NCDs develop over a long period and are often linked to how people live.
“Non-communicable diseases are complex conditions that arise from a combination of what we do and what we do not do, environmental influences, behavioural patterns and genetics,” he said, adding that their prolonged nature means people can spend years exposing themselves to risk factors before consequences become apparent.
Among the major risk factors cited are unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive calorie intake, obesity and inadequate sleep.
“About 27 percent of people do not get as much physical activity as required. They move from the office to the car and from the car to the house, with very little physical activity in between,” he said.
He said modern lifestyles are making physical inactivity increasingly common, while the growing availability of fast foods is contributing to unhealthy eating habits.
“Fast foods are now rampant and available everywhere. Smoking is another factor we need to address. Inactivity, spending long periods on computers and the internet, and getting inadequate sleep are also important factors,” he said.
Dr Mukuzunga said the effects of these behaviours accumulate over time. Consistent healthy choices can therefore significantly improve long-term health.
“How regularly you do the things you are supposed to do is important because the effect accumulates. If it is exercise, the benefits accumulate over time. If it is smoking, the more you smoke and the more cigarettes you consume, the greater the detrimental effect,” he said.
He said people should not feel it is too late to change simply because they have already developed unhealthy habits.
“Starting early is important. Nevertheless, it is never too late to make a change. Whatever stage you are at, you can choose to start doing the things that you are supposed to do,” he said.
Nutritionist, Ms Rumbidzai Mukori challenged people to pay closer attention to what they put on their plates, warning that seemingly small dietary choices can have consequences years later.
She said people often focus on treating illnesses after they develop instead of considering how everyday diets could contribute to preventing them.
Ms Mukori urged people to reduce their intake of salt and sugar, and to make greater use of natural and traditional foods.
“I know some of us may think, ‘I am not sick, I am not weak, and I have no major problem that I am dealing with.’ But simple things like adding extra salt to your food can have an effect on your lifespan,” she said.
She said many traditional African foods are nutritious and can form part of a healthy diet if prepared appropriately.
“Our African diet is actually one that can help us to live longer. We have moved away from some of the foods and practices that we grew up with, yet these traditional foods can play an important role in helping us to age healthily,” she said.
Ms Mukori encouraged people to eat more fermented foods, plant-based proteins and fibre-rich foods while being cautious about the sugar content of commercially produced products.
“We also have fermented foods. We have sour milk and other fermented foods, but let us make our own because some of the products on the market have a lot of sugar, and that sugar is detrimental to your health. Let us continue with the practices that we grew up with. We need to eat more plant-based proteins and make better choices with the food that is available to us,” she said, adding that increasing fibre intake is particularly important given concerns over colorectal cancer.
Ms Mukori also urged people to change the way they eat, saying rushing through meals has become common.
Beyond diet, both experts stressed the importance of regular screening, particularly as people grow older.
Ms Mukori encouraged men aged 40 and above to become accustomed to regular prostate screening, while women should undergo appropriate breast and cervical cancer screening.
“As people prepare for the later stages of life, we encourage all men aged 40 and above to start accessing prostate screening so that by the time they reach their 50s, they are already accustomed to having regular screening. For women, breast and cervical cancer screening is equally important,” she said, adding that screening allows health workers to identify abnormalities before diseases become advanced, difficult and expensive to treat.
