Members of the West African Health Organization (WAHO) have begun a consultative meeting in Accra to fashion measures to reduce the increasing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) which cause more than 1.2 million deaths in the region annually.
More than 50 stakeholders, including experts from the 15 member country organization including Ghana, are attending the three day workshop, which is: “Towards Strengthening Regional Capacity in Regulation for improved Nutrition and Health in West Africa.”
Among matters to be deliberated upon are regulations on food, alcoholic, non alcoholic drinks and Tobacco in West Africa.
Participants will also discuss ways to strengthen the capacity of member countries to be able to deal effectively with Non-Communicable Diseases.
These include stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung and heart diseases which are responsible for almost 70% of all deaths worldwide, with more than 50% of the cases being preventable.
