Urbanization and International Trade and Investment Policies as Determinants of Noncommunicable Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa

Africa is one of the fastest growing regions on the globe and is home to seven of the ten fastest growing markets in the world. Sub-Saharan Africa in particular has many natural resources which has made it a hub for international trade. Turkey's search for alternative market to accelerate the development of its emerging markets has led to its economic engagement in sub-Saharan Africa. However, much has not been written on Turkey's inroads in that part of the continent. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to review the progress of Turkey's trade and investment in sub Saharan Africa. It indicates that Turkey in the past didn't have much economic relationships with Sub Saharan Africa as compared to Northern Africa. Whilst the volume of Turkey's trade and investment in Sub- Saharan Africa keeps uprising, there are some limitations and difficulties to this partnership such as informational gap on both sides.

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Pandemics and Burden of Stroke and Epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Experience from a Longstanding Health Programme

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052766 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2766

Author(s):

Massimo Leone ◽

Fausto Ciccacci ◽

Stefano Orlando ◽

Sandro Petrolati ◽

Giovanni Guidotti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neurological Disorders ◽

Combined Treatment ◽

Cerebrovascular Disorders ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Health Programme ◽

Excess Deaths ◽

Hiv Aids

Eighty percent of people with stroke live in low- to middle-income nations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where stroke has increased by more than 100% in the last decades. More than one-third of all epilepsy−related deaths occur in SSA. HIV infection is a risk factor for neurological disorders, including stroke and epilepsy. The vast majority of the 38 million people living with HIV/AIDS are in SSA, and the burden of neurological disorders in SSA parallels that of HIV/AIDS. Local healthcare systems are weak. Many standalone HIV health centres have become a platform with combined treatment for both HIV and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), as advised by the United Nations. The COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming the fragile health systems in SSA, and it is feared it will provoke an upsurge of excess deaths due to the disruption of care for chronic diseases such as HIV, TB, hypertension, diabetes, and cerebrovascular disorders. Disease Relief through Excellent and Advanced Means (DREAM) is a health programme active since 2002 to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS and related disorders in 10 SSA countries. DREAM is scaling up management of NCDs, including neurologic disorders such as stroke and epilepsy. We described challenges and solutions to address disruption and excess deaths from these diseases during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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Chinese and Indian trade and investment links with Sub-Saharan Africa: institutions, capabilities and competitive advantage

International Journal of Technological Learning Innovation and Development ◽

10.1504/ijtlid.2013.051702 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 6 (1/2) ◽

pp. 161

Author(s):

Nir Kshetri

Keyword(s):

Competitive Advantage ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Trade And Investment

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Noncommunicable Diseases: Yet Another Challenge for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Treatment and Care in Sub-Saharan Africa

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/cid/ciz1104 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 71 (8) ◽

pp. 1874-1876 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brian K Agan ◽

Vincent C Marconi

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Treatment ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Sub Saharan

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Growth effect of trade and investment in Sub-Saharan Africa countries: Empirical insight from panel corrected standard error (PCSE) technique

Cogent Economics & Finance ◽

10.1080/23322039.2019.1607127 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 1607127 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Fredrick Ikpesu ◽

Olusegun Vincent ◽

Olamitunji Dakare ◽

Christian Nsiah

Keyword(s):

Standard Error ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Growth Effect ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Trade And Investment ◽

Empirical Insight

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Electronic Cigarettes for Curbing the Tobacco-Induced Burden of Noncommunicable Diseases: Evidence Revisited with Emphasis on Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa

Pulmonary Medicine ◽

10.1155/2016/4894352 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jobert Richie N. Nansseu ◽

Jean Joel R. Bigna

Keyword(s):

Tobacco Smoking ◽

Electronic Cigarettes ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Quit Smoking ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Never Smokers ◽

Second Hand Smoking ◽

And Control

Introduction. This review examines whether electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) implementation or vulgarization in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) could be helpful in curtailing the toll of tobacco smoking in the region. Discussion. There are about 1.3 billion smokers worldwide, with nearly 80% of them living in developing countries where the burden of tobacco-related illnesses and deaths is the heaviest. Studies report that e-cigs may facilitate smoking cessation, reduction, or abstinence and may pose only a small fraction of the risks of traditional tobacco cigarettes; e-cigs may also considerably reduce second-hand smoking. Thereby, implementation of e-cig use could help to substantially reduce the burden driven by tobacco smoking in SSA, in a particular context of lack of regulations and control policies towards this threat. However, the evidence is not clear on whether e-cigs are risk-free, especially if used in the long term. Conclusions. On the whole, if e-cigs were to be introduced in SSA, they should be strictly recommended to current and/or ex-smokers as a method to quit smoking or prevent relapse and never-smokers should be strongly encouraged to avoid using these devices. Bans on sales of e-cigs to youngsters should be legislated, e-cig advertisements prohibited, and their usage continuously controlled and monitored.

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Addressing Care Continuity and Quality Challenges in the Management of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases in a Sub-Saharan Private Healthcare Sector: a Case for Health Information Systems (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.18899 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Aisha Walcott-Bryant ◽

Sekou Remy ◽

William Ogallo ◽

Katherine Tryon ◽

Winnie Shena ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Information ◽

Digital Health ◽

Healthcare Systems ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Healthcare Sector ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Care Providers ◽

Private Healthcare ◽

Care Continuity ◽

Sub Saharan

BACKGROUND The rise of noncommunicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa places strain on already stretched healthcare systems, that have traditionally focused on infectious diseases. Healthcare provision is fragmented, and there is a dearth of literature on the experiences, challenges, and solutions for improving the management of noncommunicable diseases in sub-Saharan private healthcare sectors. OBJECTIVE We investigated the management of hypertension in the Kenyan private healthcare sector to understand how a health information system could be used to address care continuity and quality challenges in the management of hypertension and other noncommunicable diseases. METHODS We conducted in-depth interviews and direct observations at 18 healthcare institutions in Kenya. We analyzed the data to identify the key challenges and proposed solutions to the challenges. We subsequently used the generated insights to propose the design of a digital health solution for enabling care quality and continuity at the study setting and similar ecosystems. RESULTS The private healthcare sector in Kenya is fragmented and faces challenges such as high cost of care, limited healthcare literacy, lack of self-management support, ineffective referral systems, inadequate care provider training, and inadequate regulation. Care coordination is hindered by suboptimal encounter data collection, limited view of patient histories, and little trust between care providers. Patient health records are siloed in multiple paper and electronic systems that lack integration. The proposed digital health platform system supports care coordination and continuity within fragmented healthcare systems by enabling patient-consented data sharing while ensuring that care providers in separate facilities have holistic views of the patient’s clinical and non-clinical history. CONCLUSIONS Health information systems can play a pivotal role in addressing the care continuity and quality challenges in the management of noncommunicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa private healthcare sectors. Leveraging technology and processes to support patients managing chronic noncommunicable diseases in disparate clinical and nonclinical settings (e.g. at home and in support groups) is critical.

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Building on the HIV chronic care platform to address noncommunicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa

AIDS ◽

10.1097/qad.0000000000001898 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

pp. S107-S113 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Susan Vorkoper ◽

Linda E. Kupfer ◽

Nalini Anand ◽

Pragna Patel ◽

Blythe Beecroft ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Care ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Sub Saharan

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Regional Overview on the Double Burden of Malnutrition and Examples of Program and Policy Responses: African Region

Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1159/000503671 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

pp. 127-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Adelheid W. Onyango ◽

Juddy Jean-Baptiste ◽

Betty Samburu ◽

Tshimi Lynn Moeng Mahlangu

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

Health Sector ◽

Lifestyle Changes ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

World Health ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

African Region ◽

Double Burden ◽

Double Burden Of Malnutrition ◽

Sub Saharan

Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) with high levels of undernutrition and a growing burden of overweight/obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Undernourishment in sub-Saharan Africa increased between 2010 and 2016. Although the prevalence of chronic undernutrition is decreasing, the number of stunted children under 5 years of age is increasing due to population growth. Meanwhile, overweight/obesity is increasing in all age groups, with girls and women being more affected than boys and men. It is increasingly recognized that the drivers of the DBM originate outside the health sector and operate across national and regional boundaries. Largely unregulated marketing of cheap processed foods and nonalcoholic beverages as well as lifestyle changes are driving consumption of unhealthy diets in the African region. Progress toward the goal of ending hunger and malnutrition by 2030 requires intensified efforts to reduce undernutrition and focused action on the reduction of obesity and diet-related NCDs. The World Health Organization is developing a strategic plan to guide governments and development partners in tackling all forms of malnutrition through strengthened policies, improved service delivery, and better use of data. It is only through coordinated and complementary efforts that strides can be made to reduce the DBM.

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Aging and the Rising Burden of Noncommunicable Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa and other Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Call for Holistic Action

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnz102 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 60 (5) ◽

pp. 806-811 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Razak M Gyasi ◽

David R Phillips

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Mortality Data ◽

African Countries ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Demographic Aging ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Low And Middle Income

Abstract Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a prevalent and growing burden among older cohorts in sub-Saharan Africa and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as in many wealthier parts of the world. This stems from the combined effects of factors such as demographic aging, behavioral transitions, and developmental origins of health and disease. A crucial characteristic of many NCDs is that their personal and family impacts and costs are not accurately reflected in mortality data. Their effects are often chronic and long-term and can cause morbidity, loss of work ability, and impaired quality of life over a prolonged period. Unless addressed seriously, the continuing increase of NCDs and their burden in sub-Saharan African countries and other LMICs will almost certainly undermine progress toward achieving the target of reducing by 25% premature mortality from NCDs in these countries by 2025 and also one-third reduction of NCDs target by 2030. To have any chance of meeting or even getting near to these targets, this article calls for action by national and regional governments to strengthen universal health coverage (UHC), economic empowerment of vulnerable groups, public–private partnerships, effective fiscal regulation, and public education on NCDs, their risk factors and impacts in sub-Saharan Africa in particular and most LMICs globally.

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