Making primary healthcare responsive to non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. (14th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baiden, Frank
• Is Part Of: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Volume 114:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 229
• Page End: 231
• Publication Date: 2020-02-14
• Subjects: chronic -- diabetes -- diseases -- hypertension -- non-communicable -- non-communicable diseases -- primary healthcare -- sub-Saharan Africa; Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; 616.9883
• DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-9203

Abstract

Abstract: Primary healthcare (PHC) meets the needs of people's health throughout their lives and empowers individuals and communities to oversee their own health. Most of the community-based activities currently undertaken in PHC in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) address child and maternal health. Non-communicable diseases are now major causes of morbidity and premature mortality in SSA. In this paper, I propose the formal integration of community-based, non-communicable disease prevention and early detection into PHC activities. I offer practical suggestions on how this can be achieved to ensure a continuum of care.