JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- As South Africa grapples with rising non-communicable diseases, Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla on Monday outlined the national department's response to this emerging pandemic.

Speaking in Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital, Phaahla said the country faced a quadruple burden of diseases, especially non-communicable diseases.

"Non-communicable diseases are exploding in South Africa, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases," he said.

Diabetes was the second leading underlying cause of death in 2020, accounting for 6.6 percent of all deaths, and its rising mortality rate over the years was alarming.

Phaahla further noted that non-communicable diseases have a far-reaching impact, not only affecting individuals but also placing significant burdens on the health system and the economy.

Responding to the issue, Phaahla said measures have been made to strengthen primary healthcare and implement regulations on sugar and salt consumption to tackle the scourge of non-communicable diseases.

Phaahla announced the deployment of community health workers to boost primary healthcare, focusing on blood pressure and sugar level screenings. He stressed that combating non-communicable diseases requires collective action, and his department is launching education campaigns to highlight disease risks and promote physical activity.

Research has revealed that countries in the Southern African region must take urgent actions to curb the rising tide of non-communicable diseases, which are projected to become the region's most pressing health issue by 2030. Enditem

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