1. World Bank. Public policy and chronic non-communicable diseases. Oxford University Press. Washington DC, 2007.
Inadequate hospital situation where patients
with different types of disease are being
placed in one room.
While having the title of growing,
a country is at the developing and
improving itself from what they
have had, including the medical
infrastructure each country deem
appropriate.
Chronic diseases, however, see no
boundaries, and equally growing,
haunting both developed and
developing countries. When the
developed countries “have spared
the time to tackle the problems”,
the ability to improve the health of
the developing countries’
populations is seriously threatened.
It is estimated that in 2005, chronic
diseases were responsible for 50% of
deaths and illness in 23 selected
developing countries1 .
Within the past two decades, in
hope of improving their day to day
health, a large numbers of people in
developing countries have adopted
the lifestyle of people in more
economically and technologically
advanced regions – forgetting the
possibility of new health risks that
comes along with the new lifestyle
(Driving factors of chronic diseases).
Rachel Nugent describes the growing
burden of chronic non-
communicable diseases in low- and
middle-income countries, and calls
for multisectoral action to promote
healthy lifestyle changes among all
populations.
Driving factors of chronic diseases
The rise of lifestyle-related chronic
disease in poor countries is the
result of a complex constellation of
social (westernized lifestyle and
urbanization), economic
(international trade of processed
food), and behavioural (smoking at
young age, even significant changes
in eating behaviour towards fast
food, growth meat and dairy
products). The nowadays cannot
turn the clock anymore, leaving the
only option of improving the
country’s healthcare system that
will always support the populations
in preventing chronic disease
growth.
“The burden” on the healthcare
system
Do you remember in one of our
article, there are commonalities
shared among growth countries
when it comes to the healthcare
system. Not only it can scarcely
keep up with the basic healthcare
needs, at public healthcare, people
who have chronic disease and/or at-
high-risk ill people tend to be
neglected for the complex medical
action which have not yet been
supported. While private healthcare
can provide these necessities, it is
exclusively accessible for the
minority, the wealthy.
Hence, fundamental and systematic
healthcare reforms that enhances
general care, coordination, and
continuity of care are highly
essential in many developing
countries. There are, though, a few
principals suggested to support the
mentioned reforms, such as:
Preventive initiatives
Since most of people in the growth
countries do not have equal and
constant access to a standardized
healthcare system, preventive
approach and incentives into the
community are highly proven to be
most effective. The most receptive
approaches ever implemented can
be seen from the adequate nutrition
served and regular exercise
activities at school, given incentives
for employee at work for their
healthy life (role model) which can
be made sporadic through the
organisation. Such measures pay for
themselves in terms of reduction of
illness, and increase productivity.
Integrated approach
In developing countries, care
services such as immunization, pre-
natal care, family planning, and
HIV/AIDS prevention or treatment,
have been provided and supported
by public and private programmes.
It is not difficult to envision simple
ways to expand each of these
programmes to include chronic
disease care – including screening,
prevention and treatment.
A strategy such as obesity treatment
can be paired with a campaign of
under-nourished phenomenon that
still exists in other regions to raise
the awareness of good diet and food
waste.
Long term behaviour change
If there is one thing that many
growth countries tend to fail is
achieving the long term behaviour
change which is essential in fighting
chronic disease, but rather seen as a
complicated and challenging path.
For instance, poor regulations that
cause easy access to and usage of
tobacco, poor diet, and lack of
physical activities can already be
seen as the three most contributing
factors in degrading ones’ health.
Healthcare system, empowered by
the government, therefore, must
become even more effective in
initiating and sustaining lifestyle
interventions.
All in all, creative responses to fight
this threat of chronic diseases must
involve all individuals at all levels:
national governments, healthcare
providers and professionals, the
people itself, and donor
organizations (NGO, NPO, or not).
The Growth of Chronic Diseases
In the Growth Countries
Christmas is just around the
corner! It’s the most awaited
celebration by the so many. The
warm and festive vibe,
surrounded by family and loved
ones. Christmas tree and the
decorations, presents and love,
the jingling bells and carols, and
every sweetness one can get
during this season greetings.
All of that can turn into a
nightmare, if not properly
calculated and prepared, even your
health can be at risk.
Although summer time has been
recorded as the peak of health-
threatening period, possibly the
busiest time for the hospital
personnel, Christmas has its own
spike. The following occurrences are
known as the most reported cases
during Christmas holiday and
celebration.
Food poisoning and indigestion
While turkey is probably the most
purchased and served meal on
Christmas, not so many know that if
not prepared and handled well, it
can cause food poisoning to those
who are vulnerable. There are steps
need to be taken while preparing
turkey.
Turkey is known to be manifesting
more dreadful germs than chicken
and pork. Washing the meat should
not be part of the preparation
because it can only contaminate the
surface of the kitchen with the
bacteria. If bought frozen, make
sure to defrost it first, leaving no
dry ice particle which is known can
create unwanted chemical reaction
while being cooked.
Excessive food intake holds equal
risk. Not only it can choke the
consumer, but also it’s the main
cause of severe indigestion that will
send the consumer to hospital for
further screening and treatment.
Home accidents
Every year, reported in England
alone, there are approximately
1,000 people are injured by
Christmas tree annually, and around
80,000 other celebrators worldwide
wound themselves from falling,
cuts, choking, and fire.
Fire is one of the most hazardous
cause associated with Christmas.
There is a higher possibility of one
can die from the house fire or gas
blast during Christmas time than at
any other time through the year.
While alcohol and drugs are well
known risk factors, candles fire
claims more lives each year. An
example can be watched from this
video.
Winter death
On average, there are up to 20,000
cases every year admitted to the
hospital caused by pneumonia in
December only.
Winter deaths are associated with
low temperatures, though
hypothermia is not the main cause.
Most of the cases are caused by
circulatory and respiratory diseases.
All reports combined, the number of
extra deaths in the winter cannot
only depend on the temperature but
also on the level of long invested
diseases, such as asthma and
vulnerability towards simple cold
and flu, which can be fatal when
being in contact with the extreme
cold weather.
Christmas is a period where one
finds himself doing something he
does not regularly do. Therefore,
take more time to think through of
any potential incident and health-
risk condition, and let no danger
ruin the festivity of the year.
By: Brenda Achere
MedTech is an alliance of European
medical technology industry
associations founded by EDMA (IVDs)
and Eucomed (MDs). MedTech holds
an annual event on Healthcare
solutions with this year’s event
centered on discussions on e-Health
in diabetes care. The event was
titled ´The Standing Men´, which
was a Crowd-sourcing solutions on
technologies or life.
MEDx eHealthCenter B.V was
represented by Patricia Monthe
(CEO), Annabelle Tabi (International
Patient Expert) and myself.
“Personally it was an exciting
experience for listening to
testimonies from striving diabetes
patients and sharing in the
knowledge of tomorrow’s tech
solutions for survival from the
disease. With MedTech focusing on
developing products and services to
help people living with diabetes to
better manage their conditions on a
daily basis.
I also learnt more on the increasing
number of people suffering from
Diabetes. As if it’s not enough, the
fact that more young people are at
risk of the disease. Europe,
surprisingly holds the highest
number of children diagnosed with
Type 1 diabetes, reminds me once
more on my awareness on sugar and
other daily high calorie
consumption foods for myself as a
mother and my family.
This programme left me with a
greater spirit of continuous
education and information search
on self-care and family care
solutions which MEDx stands for and
is reaching the world with.
I was excited to see how the virtual
surgical procedures will take place
in the future through the virtual
reality glasses. It was one of the
best and unimaginable experience I
have had and I look forward to
future challenges.”
When Your Well Being is At Risk
in Season Greetings
MEDx at MedTech
Brussels 2016 “Standing Man Diabetes”
Top Related