Any Policy or Control Strategy in Place
Structural Level of Intervention
Based on the current trend, there are no concrete policies/programmes put in place in the Gambia, just like many sub-Saharan African countries to stem the emerging epidemic. This is not surprising given the fact that there is little or no reliable data available on chronic non-communicable diseases prevalence and risk factors [11], which is the first step in health policy formulation.
Expert such as Unwin and others [32] have recommended three-pronged intervention strategies-epidemiological surveillance, primary prevention (preventing diseases in healthy populations) and secondary prevention (preventing complications and improving quality of life in affected communities). As regards epidemiological surveillance, no recent national survey or even community based survey known has been conducted in The Gambia on the prevalence and/or risk factors for chronic diseases or general health with direct consequences on chronic diseases. However, the health ministry in The Gambia, which is the case in many others African countries, acknowledges the presence and devastating impacts of NCDs [3,33]. Even though there is a newly formed directorate for NCDs within the ministry of health and social welfare, there has not been yet any significant effort in the areas of NCDs prevention, health promotion, treatment and control.
In response to increasing demands for health services by the population and severe shortage of locally trained manpower, the government established an indigenous university to produce human resources for health, particularly medical doctors, nurses and public health officers. However, the medical training is still evolving and riddled with problems such as dearth of medical teachers, non-availability of specialist trainings in most of the departments and paucity of training facilities. The only teaching hospital in the Gambia still faces challenges of inadequate modern health technologies and related facilities. Furthermore, the existing manpower (mainly foreigners on technical aid programmes) works under pressure and the few local staff are poorly motivated. The existing health personnel to patient ratio are still very low [15], even in the face of the double burden of disease. Generally there is severe shortage of expertise to manage NCDs in The Gambia necessitating referrals to Senegal while the affluent few seek treatment in Europe or the USA.
Overall, there are limited human and infrastructural capacities for non-communicable diseases care and treatment available within The Gambia. This scenario is obtainable in many African countries.
Community Level of Intervention
The involvements of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations/groups (CBO) are very minimal in the prevention and care (medical and social support) of chronic non-communicable diseases.
Any Policy or Control Strategy in Place
Structural Level of Intervention
Based on the current trend, there are no concrete policies/programmes put in place in the Gambia, just like many sub-Saharan African countries to stem the emerging epidemic. This is not surprising given the fact that there is little or no reliable data available on chronic non-communicable diseases prevalence and risk factors [11], which is the first step in health policy formulation.
Expert such as Unwin and others [32] have recommended three-pronged intervention strategies-epidemiological surveillance, primary prevention (preventing diseases in healthy populations) and secondary prevention (preventing complications and improving quality of life in affected communities). As regards epidemiological surveillance, no recent national survey or even community based survey known has been conducted in The Gambia on the prevalence and/or risk factors for chronic diseases or general health with direct consequences on chronic diseases. However, the health ministry in The Gambia, which is the case in many others African countries, acknowledges the presence and devastating impacts of NCDs [3,33]. Even though there is a newly formed directorate for NCDs within the ministry of health and social welfare, there has not been yet any significant effort in the areas of NCDs prevention, health promotion, treatment and control.
In response to increasing demands for health services by the population and severe shortage of locally trained manpower, the government established an indigenous university to produce human resources for health, particularly medical doctors, nurses and public health officers. However, the medical training is still evolving and riddled with problems such as dearth of medical teachers, non-availability of specialist trainings in most of the departments and paucity of training facilities. The only teaching hospital in the Gambia still faces challenges of inadequate modern health technologies and related facilities. Furthermore, the existing manpower (mainly foreigners on technical aid programmes) works under pressure and the few local staff are poorly motivated. The existing health personnel to patient ratio are still very low [15], even in the face of the double burden of disease. Generally there is severe shortage of expertise to manage NCDs in The Gambia necessitating referrals to Senegal while the affluent few seek treatment in Europe or the USA.
Overall, there are limited human and infrastructural capacities for non-communicable diseases care and treatment available within The Gambia. This scenario is obtainable in many African countries.
Community Level of Intervention
The involvements of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations/groups (CBO) are very minimal in the prevention and care (medical and social support) of chronic non-communicable diseases.
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