NCD Alliance Urges Collaboration in Fight Against NCDs in Malawi

Malawi- The Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Alliance in Malawi has called for collaboration between the government and non-state actors in the fight against NCDs in the country, writes Bridget Mwanoka.

The Alliance Chairperson, Maud Mwakasungula, who is also the Executive Director for Women Coalition Against Cancer in Malawi (WOCACA), made the plea during a meeting with parliamentary committees on health and finance, as well as key stakeholders, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, to discuss key advocacy priorities on NCD financing.

"We have seen persistent stockouts of NCD drugs and a lack of dialysis machines in public hospitals in the country, which has always been a concern. That's why we thought of conducting the meeting to build a platform for dialogue on transforming NCD financing as a critical part of achieving sustainable development goals," said Mwakasungula.

According to Mwakasungula, NCDs are the leading cause of death globally, with the majority being cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, or diabetes. She further explained, "So we are implementing a project titled 'Strengthening of NCD Financing' with the aim of building efforts to expand its advocacy reach, build alliances and partnerships through mobilization, collaboration, and networking with various stakeholders, including government, NGOs, CSOs, and donor partners in addressing NCDs with a special focus on NCD financing."

Dr. Matthews Ngwale, Chairperson for the parliamentary committee on health, acknowledged the gap that exists and the reluctance from both the committee and the Ministry of Health in addressing NCDs.

"We felt good listening to people raise all their concerns, and it is clear that we haven't been giving them our full attention because we normally concentrate on diseases that affect the majority of people, leaving out NCDs. We will go back to parliament and present everything that has been shared here and possibly lobby for more funds to address NCDs," Ngwale said.

Hastings Chiumia, Assistant Director responsible for non-communicable diseases in the Ministry of Health, acknowledged some of the challenges but was quick to point out that the government is making proper investments in addressing NCD issues.

"Concerns were raised about inadequate dialysis machines, especially in the north. I remember vividly that the president directed the Ministry of Health to establish a dialysis centre in the North. I can confidently say we are working with our partners, and soon we will have a dialysis machine at Mzuzu Central Hospital, which will greatly help since people have to travel all the way to Lilongwe to get the services. We already have certified doctors who are specialists in that," he explained.

Currently, there are 12 dialysis machines at Kamuzu Central Hospital, and 5 at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, making a total of 19 for government hospitals, while Christian Health Services (CHS) has 2, and 15 at Mwaiwathu, totaling 19 for private hospitals.

The burden of NCDs is especially significant in Malawi, where there is already a high incidence of NCDs and their risk factors.

The rates of heart disease and diabetes are 9% and 6%, respectively, and the prevalence of hypertension, obesity, and smoking are estimated at 16.7%, 18.5%, and 21.7%, respectively.

The Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance is urging collaborative efforts between the government and non-state actors to address this pressing health issue and improve NCD financing for the betterment of the country's population.