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DPH eyes reviving NCD Alliance
Due to high numbers and increase in deaths from non-communicable diseases, the Division of Public Health under the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. will be holding a meeting to address these concerns next Tuesday.
The meeting, which will be held from 8am to 3pm at the Pacific Islands Club’s Napu Room and hosted by DPH’s Non-Communicable Disease Bureau, aims to bring together community members, partners and stakeholders to discuss the revival of the NCD Alliance.
In the CNMI, seven out of 10 deaths are caused by NCDs such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and risk factors associated with NCDs such as high blood pressure, physical inactivity, and tobacco use, to name a few.
In her letter of invitation to stakeholders, CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muna cited a nutrition cluster survey performed in 2008, which showed that 45 percent of the CNMI’s 7- to 10-year-olds were obese or overweight.
“Children and teens who are obese have been found to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease including high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and abnormal glucose tolerance,” Muña said.
“This shocking information indicates a need for our healthcare system to increase its efforts to partner and collaborate with community members, both private and faith-based organizations and other government agencies to tackle this threat,” she added.
