Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has vowed to stop premature deaths caused by non-communicable diseases in the province, partnering with the World Health Organisation, the City of Ekurhuleni, Nordisk and Promed Technologies, to try to attain this goal.
IOL reports that Gauteng has a 40% hypertension prevalence rate and 11% diabetes prevalence – the main causes of premature deaths in the province.
The WHO said that cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, or 17.9m people annually, followed by cancer (9.3m), chronic respiratory diseases (4.1m), and diabetes (2m), including kidney disease deaths caused by diabetes.
The MEC’s statement was made during the launch of the provincial strategic plan on the prevention and control of communicable diseases, at which she said only collaborative efforts would yield positive results.
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