Emergence of Non Communicable Diseases in Sri Lanka

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Emergence of Non Communicable Diseases in Sri
Lanka
Facing the Challenge

• Dr. Lakshmi C. Somatunga
• Director/Non Communicable Diseases
• Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka

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Trends in Hospital Mortality(Deaths per 100,000
pop)
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Demography

• Transition in the demographic profile
• Increasing trend in the proportion of the older
  age groups
• Median age 21.3 yrs until 1981
• 25.6 yrs by 1994 (Demo. Survey 1994)
• Life expectancy at birth
• 70.7 for males
• 75.4 for females

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Life Style Changes in Sri Lanka

• Tobacco Use
• National level statistics Around 25 prevalence
  among males
• lt 1 among females (So far)
• Around 80 of smoked tobacco used as cigarettes

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Life Style Changes in Sri Lanka continues

• Diet
• Traditionally Rice and curry are staples of the
  Sri Lankan diet favorite dishes include
  "mallung," consisting of Greeny leafy
  Veg,coconut, red onions, and lime,
• The Trend
• fast food chains, No cooking at home
• Increased consumption of animal fats
• Consumption of salty,sugary and fatty snacks

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• Do we eat adequate vegetables?
• Is it available at reasonable cost?

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• Do we have a habit of consuming fruits every day?

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Food Consumption Pattern(Per capita per day)
Wheat-based food Urban Rural 1978 348.6 301.9 1996 371.6 413.6
Meat Urban Rural 9.8 3.1 10.7 4.5
Eggs Urban Rural 3.9 2.2 6.9 4.6
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Life Style Changes in Sri Lanka continues

• Diet
• Consumption of Fruits (per day)
• 71 lt1 serving
• 21 1 serving
• 8 2 or more
• (Survey by NCD Unit, Ministry of Health, 2003)

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Life Style Changes in Sri Lanka continues

• Physical Activity
• All occurring within a context of reduced levels
  of physical activity
• (Cricket is the trademark spectator sport.
  People keep watching for hours but, not engaged
  in sport for a few minutes)

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• Clean Air
• Those days
• in-built Physical Activity

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Facing the challenge Guiding Principle

• Prevention is the most cost effective way

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Facing the challenge Strategic Objective

• To promote healthy life style
• across the life span

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General Objective

• To launch an integrated NCD prevention programme
• in Sri Lanka

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Key Result Areas

• Coordination between sectors
• Behavioral change among children
• Community, exposed to correct messages
• Quality of management of major NCD improved
• Systematic collection of information for action
  Surveillance improved
• Demand for prevention is created

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Routine Activities Achieved/On-going

• Establishment of a NCD prevention and control
  network
• Train professionals on issues related to tobacco
• Incorporate NCD prevention into existing school
  curriculum
• Mobilizing youth towards prevention of NCD
• Piloting the WHO Stepwise approach for NCD
  surveillance
• Strengthen health clubs in the schools
• Produce and distribute media materials on NCD
  prevention
• Tobacco Alcohol bill passed in the parliament

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Major Activities

• Establishment of a NCD surveillance mechanism (A
  national NCD risk factor survey is being
  conducted in Sept- Nov 2006 and thereafter to
  repeat in every 5 years)
• Launching of an island-wide Social Marketing
  Programme

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Major Activities planned for year 2007

• Formulation of National NCD Policy and Strategy
• Development of National Action Plan on Prevention
  and Control of major NCD
• Printing Text book insert for school children on
  promoting Healthy Lifestyle to prevent NCD

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