Corporations join forces against NCDs

Dar es Salaam. Corporations based in Tanzania have joined forces to combat the growing threat of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), recognising the urgent need for action to safeguard the health and well-being of their workforce.

The recent Corporate Wellness Conference 2024, organised by the UN Global Compact and ImpactAfya on April 17, 2024, heralded a significant step forward in addressing the escalating burden of NCDs in the country.

The theme of the conference, Mitigating NCDs for Sustainable Businesses, underscored the crucial role of corporations in tackling pressing health issues.

With over 200 participants from various companies, including Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL), the event provided a platform for dialogue and collaboration on effective strategies to promote employee health and well-being.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NCDs account for 33 percent of all deaths in Tanzania. Cardiovascular diseases, in particular, have emerged as one of the leading causes of mortality, reflecting a growing public health concern.

The prevalence of risk factors such as tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, and sedentary lifestyles has contributed to the rise of NCDs across the country.

Assistant Director and Head of Non-Communicable Diseases at the ministry of Health, Dr Omary Ubuguyu, highlighted the disproportionate impact of NCDs on the business community, attributing it to lifestyle factors prevalent among affluent individuals.

He stressed the significance of corporate initiatives in promoting healthier behaviours and reducing the prevalence of NCDs in workplaces.

"As a society, we need to ensure that we do well. Unfortunately, young people are more affected than any other age group,” remarked Dr Ubuguyu. 

"Bringing the corporate community together to discuss NCDs as a game-changer in bringing positive change is a great motivation in this journey because the majority of cases are with the people in the cooperative community," he explained.

He said business communities were made of individuals who have the purchasing power to buy and consume more processed foods, indulge in heavy alcohol consumption, and engage in other habits that affect their health, including not having enough time for exercise to mitigate these effects.

He pointed out that, according to statistics (which he did not specify), workplaces are the areas where people are most affected by NCDs due to a lack of opportunities to engage in and access proper health-improving resources compared to unemployed individuals who can consume home-cooked meals.

Dr Ubuguyu, who is also the Head of Health and Injuries in the ministry, stated that the nation carries a heavy burden of NCDs, emphasising that the national health insurance fund is overwhelmed by these diseases.

The conference also received endorsements from key stakeholders, including the Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, Ms Marsha Marcatta-Yambi, and the Executive Director of the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE), Ms Suzzane Ndomba-Doran.

Both insisted on the importance of corporate engagement in promoting employee health and well-being as integral to sustainable business practices.

Ms Marcatta-Yambi highlighted the role of the UN Global Compact in assisting private companies, civil society organisations, and governments in aligning with sustainable development goals, including those related to health and well-being.

She reiterated the need for concerted efforts to address the four pillars of the Global Compact: human rights, environment, labour, and anti-corruption.

Ms Ndomba-Doran underscored the significance of initiatives like the Corporate Wellness Conference in empowering employees with better health strategies.

"These diseases result from lifestyles; employees do not exercise, so it is important to have conferences like this to promote the health of employees in the workplace," she emphasized.

Furthermore, the Executive Director of Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Prof Mohamed Janabi, emphasised the importance of lifestyle modifications in improving health outcomes.

He advocated for intermittent fasting as a means to enhance the body's metabolic functions and promote overall well-being.

Research published in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information underscores the significant impact of NCDs on mortality rates, with cardiovascular conditions, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and injuries accounting for a large proportion of all deaths.