Erick Mahatara: How Non-Communicable Diseases are Reshaping Our Lives
Erick Mahatara, Ambassador and Scholar at Cancer Fight Tanzania, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“The Silent Epidemic: How Non Communicable Diseases are Reshaping Our Lives…
In the heart of our communities, a quiet storm brews one that doesn’t announce itself with fevers or contagious outbreaks, yet silently claims lives and livelihoods every day.
These are Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illnesses. They account for 74% of all global deaths and are increasingly burdening Tanzanian families, communities, and our health systems.
Unlike infectious diseases, NCDs are tied to our daily choices how we eat, move, manage stress, and whether we smoke or drink. Their impact is profound—not just medically, but socially and economically. They drive families into poverty due to treatment costs, reduce productivity, and strain already fragile health systems.
But there is hope. NCDs are largely preventable. Early detection, lifestyle changes, and awareness are key. Across Tanzania, initiatives are rising to tackle this challenge—from integrating care services, empowering health workers, to nationwide campaigns promoting healthy living.
This is more than a health issue it’s a call to action. Together, through informed choices and collective effort, we can reverse the tide of NCDs and build a healthier future for all.”
Further Reading: Redefining Leadership in the Age of NCDs: A Transformative Dialogue.
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