ECOWAS Moves To Combat Non Communicable Diseases

Health Minister of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have resolved to develop action that would combat non-communicable discusses in the region.

The ECOWAS Ministers resolution was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of their three-day meeting in Lome, the capital of the Republic of Togo, adding that non-communicable diseases currently pose serious health problems in West Africa.

It was gathered that some of the issues the Health ministers resolved include, harmonisation and classification of healthcare facilities, quality of healthcare delivery and financing programmes on non-communicable disease.

In the communiqué, signed by Nigeria’s Minister for Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, recommended that 15 percent of the total national budget of each of the participating states be allotted to health as contained in the Abuja commission.

According to the Ministers, this was imperative to enable member countries appropriately cater for their population’s health needs and non-communicable diseases.

The ECOWAS ministers charged member countries on the need to establish and strengthen public-private partnership, considering its role in ensuring sustainable improvement of health indices and expressed empathy to victims of post-conflict health problems.

In his key note address, the Togolese Prime Minister, Mr. Gilbert Houngbo, stressed need for an effective regional research programme on the management of epidemics and endemic diseases.