The Government of Maldives has revealed the findings of the WHO-STEPS Survey and launched the National Multi-sectoral Action Plan to control NCDs and in collaboration with World Health Organization and Maldives National University. Initiatives and recommendations on how to minimize the prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases in the country were also disseminated and deliberated on during this momentous occasion.
Conceptualized and developed by WHO, the STEPS Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factor Survey is a household survey tool for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data on risk factors of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and associated health system response at the population level.
Non-Communicable diseases and its risk factors continues to be the top-five leading of death in the Maldives. These diseases can affect people of all ages. With an expectant shift in our age demographics which indicates an increase of the adult and elderly population by 2050, non-communicable disease trends are also likely to rise and harshly affect these populations. The prevention and control of NCDs are very high on WHO’s agenda at every level, from country to regional and global.
There are several factors and determinants that contribute to the prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases, including social determinants and drivers, behavioral risk factors, and metabolic risk factors. To prevent and control NCDs, availability and utilization of an innovative tool such as STEPS is crucial to understand, address and target all the correlating determinants. By providing a standardized framework, STEPS takes a comprehensive approach to measure all the established core risk factors responsible for most of the disease burden from NCDs at the population level rather than a single risk factor approach. This combined approach saves time and efforts and allows analysis of clustering and interrelationships among the different risk factors.
WHO at all levels including Headquarters, Regional Office and Country Office provided the necessary technical assistance to Health Protection Agency and Maldives National University to conduct the STEPS Survey. In addition to the covering all financial aspects of the survey, WHO provided crucial technical support in survey planning, development of the country adapted survey tool, training, and data analysis.
Dr Nazneen Anwar, WHO Representative commended the Government of Maldives’s commitment towards achieving the indicators of the Nine Global targets for Non-Communicable Diseases and praised the Government on their progress towards SDG 3 (Universal Health Coverage) through ensuring people’s access to health care.
“Despite these triumphs, if preventive services and health promotion are not reinforced, the government expenditure will increase when more people need high-end curative care. Therefore, early interventions need to be strengthened as this can significantly reduce the burden on health systems, as well as the cost of care.” said Dr Nazneen Anwar, WHO Representative, “Thus, in addition to the support provided for STEPS, WHO is also working on a pilot project integrating Non-Communicable Disease services into Primary Heath Care Service delivery. This will be crucial for screening and early detection of NCDs, identifying risk factors at population level, and ensuring early intervention, treatment, and management of NCDs closer to home. I express gratitude to Minister of Health Honorable Ahmed Naseem and his team for providing this opportunity to WHO. Together, we have formulated the plans to ensure that we have an effective implementation strategy. We are optimistic that if this is implemented; the country will be in a better placed to address and tackle NCDs.”
During the ceremony, the ‘National Multi-Sectoral Action Plan to control non-communicable diseases’ was launched by the President of the Republic of Maldives His Excellency Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Minister of Health Honorable Ahmed Naseem. His Excellency President noted that implementing the National Multi-Sectoral Action Plan would meaningfully resolve issues. He called for the participation of all stakeholders in implementing the action plan. Citing the findings of the STEPS Survey, the President expressed alarm over the prevalence of NCDs caused by unhealthy habits and lifestyles, which he said requires urgent public health action.
While detection, screening, and treatment of NCDs, as well as palliative care, are critical components of the response to NCDs, the President also highlighted the importance of ensuring healthy lifestyles and wellness to prevent NCDs. On the plans to reestablish primary healthcare services, the President stated that one of the main aims was to increase public awareness about NCDs, promote early testing, and ensure access to medicine and proper treatment.
During his remarks, Minister of Health Honorable Ahmed Naseem thanked WHO for their continued collaboration, partnership, and technical support throughout the course of conducting the STEPS Survey in Maldives.
The findings of the STEPS Survey will help the Maldives understand and improve NCD risk-factor prevention, health-care management, monitoring and surveillance. WHO calls on the Government, stakeholders, and partners to increase investments and accelerate the necessary policy reforms for prevention, early detection, treatment, and management of NCDs, and are fully committed towards preventing and controlling NCDs, and intensifying efforts into Primary Health Care.