Humanitarian Groups Find Increasing Need to Address NCDs
Increasing crises in middle income countries prompting new response
The current crises in Syria and Venezuela are prompting humanitarian organizations to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and obesity in their responses. Last year, the World Health Organization added diabetes medication to its standard emergency health kit, which includes supplies and pharmaceuticals to meet the needs of 10,000 people over three months. It also begin testing a supplementary kit of NCD medications in Syria and Iraq.
Source: irin.org
Before the current crisis in Syria, treating NCDs was not part of routine emergency responses and was considered more of a medical specialty. Treatment steps have not kept up with need, especially for the situation in Syria. Syrian refugees in Lebanon have high incidences of NCDs, including hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Development groups struggle with data and funding as they work to address the growing need. Organizations are beginning to address NCDs as well as nutrition issues in their latest publications and guidelines.
More coverage of the increased need of addressing NCDs and new recommendations can be found here.
