Dr.Sriyanthi Rajapakshe.
Medical Officer (NCD/CKD)
Non communicable diseases have emerged as a major public health challenge world wide causing significant morbidity, mortality and socioeconomic burden. In Sri Lanka ,NCDs have become a leadingcause of illness and death. The majority, which is 83% of the total death per year is caused by NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases,Diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory tract diseases. With the demographic transition and the population aging the burden of NCDs is likely to increase further. Lifestyle factors and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors ,such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use are major risk factors for NCDs in sri Lanka. As Sri Lanka undergoes urbanization and modernization there is an increasing trend of sedentary lifestyle ,the proliferation of fast food outlets and changing dietary patterns .Aggressive marketing and advertising of unhealthy products such as tobacco ,alcohol and unhealthy foods can also influence for the NCD prevention efforts.With the aim of effective NCD prevention NCD unit Hambantota comes under the RDHS is doing a major role under the guidance of NCD directorate Ministry of Health.
NCD risk factor burden in Hambantota district identified as follows.
(According to 2023 annual data )
Tobacco use among males-28%
Physical inactivity both male and female-23%
Alcohol use among males -12.6%
Beetle chewing among both male and female-17.7%
Overweight -24%
Obesity- 7.7%
High blood pressure-22.6%
High blood sugar -12.3%
High cholesterol -9.3%
To address this pressing health issues NCD unit Hambantota is doing comprehensive and coordinated approach through multisectoral Action Plan with the unit efforts from various sectors such as education,agriculture,local government authorities and urban development .25 healthy lifestyle centers (HLCs) established in peripheral health institutions functioning under the guidance of NCD unit to take preventive measures against NCD burden in Hambantota District.NCD unit Hambantota works on NCD prevention under the 4 Main strategies Advocacy leadership and partnership, Health promotion and risk reduction, Early detection and management of NCDs and risk factors ,surveillance monitoring evaluation and research.