1. Up to 80% of cases of coronary heart disease,
and up to 90% of cases of types 2 diabetes,
could potentially be avoided through changing
lifestyle factors. One-third of cancers could be
avoided by healthy diet, maintaining normal
weight, and engaging in exercise throughout
life.
It has been estimated that in high-risk
populations, an optimum fish consumption of
40–60 grams per day would lead to
approximately a 50% reduction in death from
coronary heart disease.
Daily intake of fresh fruit and vegetables in
adequate quantity (400-500g) is recommended
to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease,
stroke and high blood pressure.
NCD
Non Communicable Disease Unit
Ministry of Health
No. 385, Rev. Baddegama Wimalawansa Thero Mawatha
Colombo 10.
01000
Sri Lanka
Non communicable diseases (NCDs) kill
more than 36 million people each year.
Nearly 80% of NCD deaths - 29 million -
occur in low- and middle-income
countries.
Donation of vehicles by JICA to improve Non Communicable Diseases Prevention programme
Vol.01 No. 01 11
Sidney C. Smith, Jr. M.D,
President Elect, World Heart Federation
Non Communicable Diseases are rising in the South East Asian region including Sri Lanka
due to socioeconomic, epidemiological and demographic transition; aging of the population,
urbanization and lifestyle changes.
Coronary artery diseases, essential hypertension,
stroke, diabetes mellitus, asthma, chronic
obstructive pulmonary diseases and all cancers
patients admitted to government hospitals are in
upward trend…..
Among all NCDs, Cardiovascular Diseases,
Diabetes, Cancers and Chronic Respiratory
Diseases are now the leading causes of mortality
29.6%, 9.4%, 3.9% and 8.5% respectively.
The prevalence of (current) smoking among adult
males is 22.8% (Ministry of Health, 2008). The
majority of Sri Lankans consume moderate amount
of fat, and it comprises from saturated fat. .
Large proportion of adults (82%) do not
consume adequate amount of vegetables. The
daily intake of salt (10g /day) and added
sugar (60g/day ) is also high in Sri Lankan.
Management of NCD is costly due to need of
lifelong treatment and long stay in the
hospitals. Compared to the developed
countries NCD deaths disproportionately
higher in 40-60 age group in developing
countries.
Compiled by Dr. Thalatha Liyanage
These diseases are mostly
preventable by avoiding
common shared risk factors;
smoking, use of alcohol,
unhealthy diet and lack of
physical activity. They can be
managed by early detection,
treatment and promoting healthy
lifestyle.
Hence it’s a huge burden to the family,
society and the country at large due to high
economic loss. Promoting healthy lifestyles
could prevent NCDs and ensure healthy
aging by lowering disability. aging by
Hospital
statistics
shows 71%
of all
annual
deaths in
Sri Lanka
are due to
chronic
NCDs
th
August 2012
Live Discharges of Non Communicable Diseases from
government hospitals in Sri Lanka (2004 – 2008)
Source: Annual Health Bulletin
1500 CDs distributed for exercise promotion
in schools and workplaces
Healthy Lifestyle Centre
Dayata Kirula Exhibition in Anuradhapura
2012
To

2. Workshop on Tobacco Cessation. 3rd & 4th May 2011
@ Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research & Training Institute
Key features of the NATA Act
Sale of tobacco and alcohol
products to any person less thatn
21 years of age
Promotion of brands associated
with tobacco and alcohol
Advertising tobacco and alcohol
Smoking in public enclosed areas
Punishment varies according to the
offence: Fine or imprisonment.
(National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act, No. 27 of 2006)
Non-communicable disease
unit is implementing and
monitoring the tobacco and
alcohol control activities
though district focal points.
National Authority on
Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA)
is functioning as the advisory
body to the Government on
the implementation of the
National Authority on
Tobacco and Alcohol Act, No.
27 of 2006.
With the initiative of the Ministry of Health, MoH and the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) jointly commenced the Project on Health Promotion
and Preventive Measures of Chronic NCDs, in May 2008. The objective of this five
year project is to develop an “effective and efficient implementation models to
prevent and control NCDs” with following four strategies: (1) identify Risk
factors of cardiovascular diseases through the Ragama Health Study, (2)
formulate intervention guidelines, manuals and tools, (3) confirm institutional,
technical and financial feasibilities of NPP model through pilot implementation,
and (4) develop island wide implementation plan based on the evidence.
Listen to Suwasaraniya
on every Tuesday 6.30 pm
Sinhala National Service
Sri Lanka Broad Casting Corporation
This is the first issue of NCD quarterly
newsletter. Dissemination of information on
NCD prevention and control activities
mediated by the NCD Unit, Ministry of Health
is the main objective of this document. NCD
situation, recent success stories and plans
are presented in this issue. Your comments
are highly appreciated for further
improvement of the newsletter.
Dr. Anura Jayasinghe
Consultant Community Physician
NCD Unit. Ministry of Health
Over 300 Healthy Lifestyle Centres have been established throughout the
island to provide health guidance, screening, basic treatments, referral and
follow-up of people between 35-65 years of age.
Tobacco use is strongest
risk factor for main non
communicable diseases.
Prevalence of tobacco use
over 15 years (in male
female) is 22.8% 0.3%
respectively (STEP
Surveillance Sri Lanka
2007). Tobacco control
activities are being carried
out in the country on par
with the WHO Frame work
Convention on Tobacco
Control (FCTC) signed on
23rd September 2003.
Email: ncdunit@gmail.com
Telephone/Fax: 0112669599
Healthy Lifestyle Centres are conducted by
Medical Officers, Registered Medical
Officers and supportive staff.
Screening for behavioural risk factors such
as tobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diet,
physical inactivity and biological risk
factors such as overweight and obesity,
raised blood pressure and raised blood
glucose are carried out for the early
detection of non-communicable diseases.
• Sri Lanka Medical Association: NCD Subcommittee
• Board of study: Community Medicine
• Sri Lanka CODEX committee
• NATA
• Parliament Select Committee to look into alarming increase of road
traffic accident
Unhealthy diet is a major modifiable risk
factor, strongly associates with biological
risk factors of overweight and obesity,
raised blood pressure, raised blood
glucose and abnormal blood lipids.
Training programmes are being
conducted by the NCD Unit to train the
key preventive and curative healthcare
staff on the nutritional aspect of NCD.
The NPP model consists of 4 steps namely (1)
raise public awareness for NCD prevention, (2)
detect risk factors through basic screening, (3)
provide health guidance and follow up support
for high risk groups, and (4) empower
community through health promotion. Through
pilot implementation, 12,114 people in
Kurunegala and 4,006 in Polonnaruwa were
screened and given health guidance/follow up
supports accordingly. Many manuals and tools
such as health check-up manual, flip charts,
guidebook for flip chart users, posters, stickers,
physical exercise manuals and DVD, health
promotion resource book were produced and
distributed to many stakeholders. During the
final year, NPP will finalize guidelines and
manuals for island wide implementation.
Compiled by Ms Keiko Nishino, NPP,JICA
District Tobacco Control Cells
(DTCC) have been established
island-wide by NATA to
coordinate and monitor the
implementation of the NATA Act.
Compiled by Dr. Anura Jayasinghe
Rapid socio demographic and
economic changes in the country
have influenced on the NCD risk
factors and diseases prevalence.
This information is timely and
important to refer policy makers to
plan effective programs for
prevention and control of NCD. An
island-wide survey to identify NCD
risk factors will be conducted by the
NCD Unit in 2012
Tobacco kills up to half of its
users.
One person dies every six
seconds in the world due to
tobacco.
NCD Screening @ Workplace, Ministry of Health,
Suwasiripaya 2010
Memberships of National Authority on Tobacco
and Alcohol Committee
Introduction of healthy food in “2012 Sinhala Hindu Aluth Avurudu” celebration.
Ministry of Health, Suwasiripaya
Community Education on Healthy life
Introduction of exercise in
community health promotion
programme in Kurunegala