Chronic diseases:definition

Chronic diseases are diseases of long duration and generally slow progression. Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, are by far the leading cause of mortality in the world, representing 63% of all deaths.

Africa's chronic disease burden

Burdenof chronic diseasesWhat• cardiovascular disease• cancer• respiratory disease• diabetes

Why• increased life expectancy• changing lifestyle

practices• poverty• urbanization• globalization

Response to acute communicable diseases and diseases of environmental degradation & pollution

• hospitals & clinics lack basic equipment for effective diagnosis and treatment

• few health workers have specialist chronic disease training

• chronic disease knowledge among health workers is poor

Medical dimensions of chronic disease in Africa

Psychological dimensions of chronic disease in Africa

• depression

• 'chronic unhappiness‘

• spiritual distress

• 'psychiatric disturbance‘ [pattern of

psychological or behavioral symptoms

that causes an individual significant

distress, impairs their ability to function

in life, and/or significantly increases

their risk of death, pain, disability, or

loss of freedom]

• 'suicidal ideation‘ [thoughts about

suicide]

healer shopping

Stigma

burden of care of the chronically ill is carried by patients' families, households and communities

National and international dimensions of fighting chronic disease

Barriers

• lack of political will

• weak culture of knowledge transfer