Londile Moyo
Rutendo Nyeve [email protected]
GOVERNMENT has expressed concern over the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in urban areas, attributing the trend to unhealthy diets dominated by processed foods and sedentary lifestyles.
In response, the Government is scaling up interventions including taxation on unhealthy products, stringent food labelling regulations, and nationwide screening programmes to detect and manage cases early.
Non-communicable diseases are chronic conditions not spread from person to person.
They include cancers, heart diseases, diabetes, and arthritis.
Unlike infectious ailments, NCDs are primarily driven by lifestyle factors, particularly diet.
Health experts warn that the shift from traditional fibre-rich, natural foods to highly processed alternatives laden with sugar, salt, and trans-fats is fuelling an epidemic of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes in towns and cities.
Responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini, highlighted the urban-rural health divide.
“The non-communicable diseases are indeed increasing. The reason is simply that lifestyle changes are taking place,” said Deputy Minister Kwidini.
“As we get an increase in the middle class, we find that their food patterns change as well. If you go to the rural areas, they eat more natural food. You find that the disease burden there is less. However, as we get to our urban areas where people are eating more processed foods, you see that we are getting more and more of these non-communicable diseases.”
To counter this, Government has already moved to make unhealthy options less attractive.
Parliament last year approved taxes on sugar and fast food to discourage consumption.
“This is actually to discourage our society from eating these foods because they contribute a lot to non-communicable diseases,” he said.
Regulatory mechanisms are also being tightened.
The Food Standards Association ensures all packaged foods display nutritional content, enabling consumers to make informed choices. Inspections are conducted regularly to enforce compliance.
Beyond regulation, the Ministry is ramping up early detection.
“We have outreach programmes as a Ministry, where screening is done for these diseases so that treatment is instituted,” he said.
He revealed that eight mobile health trucks were commissioned in January to traverse all provinces, increasing access to screening for common cancers including cervical, breast, and prostate cancer.
These outreaches combine health education with rapid testing, ensuring those identified with NCDs receive timely treatment. Through sustained awareness and preventive measures, Government aims to reverse the tide of lifestyle diseases and protect future generations.
Online Reporter