Seychelles Ministry of Health to survey the country’s non-communicable diseases burden

SEYCHELLES – The island nation’s, Ministry of Health (MoH) through its Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) program, has launched a nationwide survey to access various contributing factors to the rise of NCDs in the nation.

The population-based survey on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will seek to determine the distribution of health behaviors, diet, and main risk factors in the whole population.

The MoH will undertake the study with support from the Seychelles Petroleum Company (Seypec) and the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB).

The survey, which will be conducted from mid-August 2023 until December 2023, with the help of local health authorities.

A random selection of 18 to 74-year-olds living in Seychelles has been chosen with the help of the National Bureau of Statistics for a survey that will study people’s behaviors, lifestyles in relation to non-communicable diseases in the country.

The 15 person- strong team undertaking the survey are health officials from various units in the ministry and will see participants from 6.30 am to 8.30 am during weekdays, targeting at least 20 people per day.

Bharathi Viswanathan, program manager for NCDs at the survey launch said, “The aim of the study is so that we can see the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease and other NCDs in Seychelles,” 

Viswanathan explained that the survey would help the agency assess the diseases properly and hence develop mitigating control measures.

For the first time, there will also be a screening for cancer with the information being collected used to better design screening methods and provide an accurate picture of the situation in the country.

“The survey will help us adjust our services to the information we collect with this new group,” said cardiovascular health official, Dr Pascal Bovet.

In addition to information concerning NCDs, the team will also ask questions about mental health, and whether there are certain impairments, which will also be very helpful to the social services databases.

Bovet attributed the improvement to a variety of reasons such as better treatment or people adopting healthier lifestyles.

Preliminary results will be provided to the participants of the survey – although the questions and tests have been set in a manner to provide rather general information on the participants’ health.

Digging deep into the Health Sector Performance Report 2022 and its finding on NCDS 

The Ministry of Health has identified numerous areas of the health sector that needs improvements and one main concern was the increased cases of NCDs in Seychelles.

According to the report, CVD attributed to 280 deaths in Seychelles – 30 percent of total deaths, followed by cancer at 159 deaths which is 17 percent and sector responsibility provides an overview of the health sector’s development.

Moreover, the report showed that just over one in three girls – 35 percent – and just under one in three boys  – 30 percent – are overweight or obese.

Another concern raised in the report is the increase in cancer-related deaths in 2022 especially among the male population. 

According to the report, cancer is the leading cause of death in 2022 with 159 deaths, 102 males and 57 females. 

Prostate cancer was the most common cause of cancer death in men with 33 deaths among men of 60 years.

The Ministry of Health is also looking for ways to improve treatment for other diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, pneumonia, and others.

Analysis of the complete sequence of causes of death in death certificates in the report shows that diabetes and hypertension were noted in 128 (14 percent) and 248 (27 percent), respectively, in 2022.

The ministry reiterated that there was a need for each individual to take responsibility for their well-being and take care of their health by watching what they eat as a family, the physical activities they do, and seeking help early.

The new study will hopefully provide important data to inform and strengthen public health policy and healthcare programs related to non-communicable diseases.

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