Health Technical Elements
Non-communicable Disease and Injuries (NCDI)
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| Click image above to download the PDF version of the Non-communicable Disease and Injuries (NCDI) Fact Sheet |
Overview
Non-communicable diseases and injuries (NCDIs) are not effectively managed within Eastern Europe and Eurasia (E&E). NCDIs lead to disability and death an average of 20 years earlier than they do in the West. Especially due to the relatively long duration of many of these conditions, NCDIs adversely affect the broader economy and also have a major economic and social impact on the families of the affected individuals. There is considerable evidence that programs designed to prevent and manage NCDIs can be inexpensive and cost-effective, and can substantially improve the health of the population in the region.
USAID’s Response
USAID-supported primary health care programs in E&E are increasingly promoting simple and cost-effective priorities such as regular screening for hypertension and reductions in smoking and alcohol use. USAID is advancing the issue of NCDIs in the region and globally, and advocating that NCDI prevention and management programs can be successfully applied within low-resource settings.
Additional Information and Resources
Important NCDI Issues in Europe and Eurasia
- Estimates show that by 2015 Russia will be losing approximately 5% of its GDP from deaths due to inadequate treatment of heart disease, stroke and diabetes (WHO, 2005).
- Among women ages 15-29 in the E&E region, injuries account for approximately 44% of deaths, cardiovascular diseases account for 11%, and maternal conditions for less than 4% (WHO, 2002)
- Road traffic injury is the sixth leading cause of Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY) losses in Eastern Europe and the leading cause of death worldwide among youth ages 10-24 (WHO, 2002).
- Alcohol consumption is a major factor in 40–60% of all injury deaths in the E&E region. (USAID/Johns Hopkins, 2006)
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Figure 2. A group of Uzbek family doctors learn how to interpret EKG results.
Photo Credit: Zdrav Plus |
Examples of USAID NCDI Programs
- In Russia, the USAID Maternal and Child Health Initiative is effectively reducing hypertension in pregnant women, one of the major contributors to maternal death. Between 2003 and 2007, the rate of hypertension fell from 28 percent to 7 percent, thanks to the project. Implementer John Snow, Inc.
- A new USAID-funded project will seek to create a replicable program to address the main causes of mortality and morbidity of women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the region. This public-private partnership will promote the health and well-being of women during their main reproductive and working years through integrated primary health care, promoting cost-effective interventions, increasing consumer empowerment, and emphasizing prevention over treatment.
- Another new USAID initiative will support programs addressing road safety, which is one of the areas of growing health concern in E&E, and a neglected development issue. Programming will seek to reduce injuries and fatalities through cost-effective, proven interventions such as crash data collection and analysis, targeted road improvements, seatbelt campaigns and other awareness measures, and pre-hospital emergency care.
USAID NCDI Success Stories
- A cardiovascular disease program in Tula, Russia decreased hospital hypertension treatment costs by 41%, primary care hypertension management costs by 39%, and the overall cost of care for hypertensive patients by 23%.
- In the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region of Georgia, the distribution of inexpensive drugs to patients with high blood pressure led to average decreases in systolic and diastolic pressure levels of 12% and 10%, respectively.
- A Diabetes Education Center in Dubna, Russia, reduced the average length of stay for patients hospitalized with diabetes-related conditions from 33 days to 20 days, and decreased the average levels of insulin use among its patients.
- Patients who participated in an asthma program in Sarov, Russia, had fewer symptoms, emergency visits, hospitalization, and lost school- and workdays.
- USAID/Macedonia developed anti-smoking TV campaigns through in-kind, in-country contributions.
- Conducted with the Global Road Safety Partnership, Poland’s Black Spot Treatment program created highly conspicuous warning signs for the most dangerous areas of roads. In these areas, crashes decreased by 35%, 23% reduction in the number killed and 28% fewer injuries.
Non-communicable Disease and Injuries Resources, Websites and Links
PUBLICATIONS
Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries in Europe and Eurasia (Adobe Acrobat PDF, 1.67mb)
Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment; WHO; October 2005
Dying Too Young – Addressing Premature Mortality and Ill Health Due to Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries in the Russian Federation (World Bank 2005) (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Public policy and the challenge of chronic noncommunicable diseases: The World Bank’s agenda for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. (World Bank, 2007) Authors: O. Adeyi; O. Smith; S. Robles.
Grand challenges in chronic non-communicable diseases (Adobe Acrobat PDF). Chronic non-communicable disease: meeting the world’s biggest health challenge. (Oxford Health Alliance, 2007) Author: A. S. Daar
Chronic disease information sheets – World Health Organization
World report on road traffic injury prevention. Report produced jointly by the World Health Organization and the World Bank. 2004.
Vaccines for roads (Adobe Acrobat PDF). Published by the International Road Assessment Program (iRAP), July 2008. The report presents the results of a multi-million dollar two-year pilot program in four developing countries – South Africa, Malaysia, Chile and Costa Rica. In each pilot country inspections focused on the roads where deaths and serious injuries were likely to be concentrated. The in-depth analyses of these roads were then used to identify where simple and cost-effective safety measures like footpaths and crossings could prevent tens of thousands of deaths and serious injuries. iRap is a not-for-profit organization registered in England.
WEBSITES
Lancet’s Chronic Diseases Series (October 2005) – Free subscription needed to see full article.
Face to face with chronic disease (WHO 2005) – WHO photo stories series about people living with chronic diseases and common underlying risks. These stories aim to demonstrate the deep and personal impact of chronic diseases on individuals and their families.
Science and Development Network (SciDev.Net) – SciDev.Net is a not-for-profit organization that provides information about science and technology for the developing world. In 2008, they published a set of articles about the need to prioritize the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. The spotlight was sponsored by SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation).
The Atlas Of Heart Disease And Stroke (WHO & CDC - 2004)
United Nations / World Health collaboration on road safety
WHO European Region website for road safety
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