1. World Bank. Public policy and chronic non-communicable diseases. Oxford University Press. Washington DC, 2007.

Inadequate hospital situation where patients

with different types of disease are being

placed in one room.

While having the title of growing,

a country is at the developing and

improving itself from what they

have had, including the medical

infrastructure each country deem

appropriate.

Chronic diseases, however, see no

boundaries, and equally growing,

haunting both developed and

developing countries. When the

developed countries “have spared

the time to tackle the problems”,

the ability to improve the health of

the developing countries’

populations is seriously threatened.

It is estimated that in 2005, chronic

diseases were responsible for 50% of

deaths and illness in 23 selected

developing countries1 .

Within the past two decades, in

hope of improving their day to day

health, a large numbers of people in

developing countries have adopted

the lifestyle of people in more

economically and technologically

advanced regions – forgetting the

possibility of new health risks that

comes along with the new lifestyle

(Driving factors of chronic diseases).

Rachel Nugent describes the growing

burden of chronic non-

communicable diseases in low- and

middle-income countries, and calls

for multisectoral action to promote

healthy lifestyle changes among all

populations.

Driving factors of chronic diseases

The rise of lifestyle-related chronic

disease in poor countries is the

result of a complex constellation of

social (westernized lifestyle and

urbanization), economic

(international trade of processed

food), and behavioural (smoking at

young age, even significant changes

in eating behaviour towards fast

food, growth meat and dairy

products). The nowadays cannot

turn the clock anymore, leaving the

only option of improving the

country’s healthcare system that

will always support the populations

in preventing chronic disease

growth.

“The burden” on the healthcare

system

Do you remember in one of our

article, there are commonalities

shared among growth countries

when it comes to the healthcare

system. Not only it can scarcely

keep up with the basic healthcare

needs, at public healthcare, people

who have chronic disease and/or at-

high-risk ill people tend to be

neglected for the complex medical

action which have not yet been

supported. While private healthcare

can provide these necessities, it is

exclusively accessible for the

minority, the wealthy.

Hence, fundamental and systematic

healthcare reforms that enhances

general care, coordination, and

continuity of care are highly

essential in many developing

countries. There are, though, a few

principals suggested to support the

mentioned reforms, such as:

Preventive initiatives

Since most of people in the growth

countries do not have equal and

constant access to a standardized

healthcare system, preventive

approach and incentives into the

community are highly proven to be

most effective. The most receptive

approaches ever implemented can

be seen from the adequate nutrition

served and regular exercise

activities at school, given incentives

for employee at work for their

healthy life (role model) which can

be made sporadic through the

organisation. Such measures pay for

themselves in terms of reduction of

illness, and increase productivity.

Integrated approach

In developing countries, care

services such as immunization, pre-

natal care, family planning, and

HIV/AIDS prevention or treatment,

have been provided and supported

by public and private programmes.

It is not difficult to envision simple

ways to expand each of these

programmes to include chronic

disease care – including screening,

prevention and treatment.

A strategy such as obesity treatment

can be paired with a campaign of

under-nourished phenomenon that

still exists in other regions to raise

the awareness of good diet and food

waste.

Long term behaviour change

If there is one thing that many

growth countries tend to fail is

achieving the long term behaviour

change which is essential in fighting

chronic disease, but rather seen as a

complicated and challenging path.

For instance, poor regulations that

cause easy access to and usage of

tobacco, poor diet, and lack of

physical activities can already be

seen as the three most contributing

factors in degrading ones’ health.

Healthcare system, empowered by

the government, therefore, must

become even more effective in

initiating and sustaining lifestyle

interventions.

All in all, creative responses to fight

this threat of chronic diseases must

involve all individuals at all levels:

national governments, healthcare

providers and professionals, the

people itself, and donor

organizations (NGO, NPO, or not).

The Growth of Chronic Diseases

In the Growth Countries

Christmas is just around the

corner! It’s the most awaited

celebration by the so many. The

warm and festive vibe,

surrounded by family and loved

ones. Christmas tree and the

decorations, presents and love,

the jingling bells and carols, and

every sweetness one can get

during this season greetings.

All of that can turn into a

nightmare, if not properly

calculated and prepared, even your

health can be at risk.

Although summer time has been

recorded as the peak of health-

threatening period, possibly the

busiest time for the hospital

personnel, Christmas has its own

spike. The following occurrences are

known as the most reported cases

during Christmas holiday and

celebration.

Food poisoning and indigestion

While turkey is probably the most

purchased and served meal on

Christmas, not so many know that if

not prepared and handled well, it

can cause food poisoning to those

who are vulnerable. There are steps

need to be taken while preparing

turkey.

Turkey is known to be manifesting

more dreadful germs than chicken

and pork. Washing the meat should

not be part of the preparation

because it can only contaminate the

surface of the kitchen with the

bacteria. If bought frozen, make

sure to defrost it first, leaving no

dry ice particle which is known can

create unwanted chemical reaction

while being cooked.

Excessive food intake holds equal

risk. Not only it can choke the

consumer, but also it’s the main

cause of severe indigestion that will

send the consumer to hospital for

further screening and treatment.

Home accidents

Every year, reported in England

alone, there are approximately

1,000 people are injured by

Christmas tree annually, and around

80,000 other celebrators worldwide

wound themselves from falling,

cuts, choking, and fire.

Fire is one of the most hazardous

cause associated with Christmas.

There is a higher possibility of one

can die from the house fire or gas

blast during Christmas time than at

any other time through the year.

While alcohol and drugs are well

known risk factors, candles fire

claims more lives each year. An

example can be watched from this

video.

Winter death

On average, there are up to 20,000

cases every year admitted to the

hospital caused by pneumonia in

December only.

Winter deaths are associated with

low temperatures, though

hypothermia is not the main cause.

Most of the cases are caused by

circulatory and respiratory diseases.

All reports combined, the number of

extra deaths in the winter cannot

only depend on the temperature but

also on the level of long invested

diseases, such as asthma and

vulnerability towards simple cold

and flu, which can be fatal when

being in contact with the extreme

cold weather.

Christmas is a period where one

finds himself doing something he

does not regularly do. Therefore,

take more time to think through of

any potential incident and health-

risk condition, and let no danger

ruin the festivity of the year.

By: Brenda Achere

MedTech is an alliance of European

medical technology industry

associations founded by EDMA (IVDs)

and Eucomed (MDs). MedTech holds

an annual event on Healthcare

solutions with this year’s event

centered on discussions on e-Health

in diabetes care. The event was

titled ´The Standing Men´, which

was a Crowd-sourcing solutions on

technologies or life.

MEDx eHealthCenter B.V was

represented by Patricia Monthe

(CEO), Annabelle Tabi (International

Patient Expert) and myself.

“Personally it was an exciting

experience for listening to

testimonies from striving diabetes

patients and sharing in the

knowledge of tomorrow’s tech

solutions for survival from the

disease. With MedTech focusing on

developing products and services to

help people living with diabetes to

better manage their conditions on a

daily basis.

I also learnt more on the increasing

number of people suffering from

Diabetes. As if it’s not enough, the

fact that more young people are at

risk of the disease. Europe,

surprisingly holds the highest

number of children diagnosed with

Type 1 diabetes, reminds me once

more on my awareness on sugar and

other daily high calorie

consumption foods for myself as a

mother and my family.

This programme left me with a

greater spirit of continuous

education and information search

on self-care and family care

solutions which MEDx stands for and

is reaching the world with.

I was excited to see how the virtual

surgical procedures will take place

in the future through the virtual

reality glasses. It was one of the

best and unimaginable experience I

have had and I look forward to

future challenges.”

When Your Well Being is At Risk

in Season Greetings

MEDx at MedTech

Brussels 2016 “Standing Man Diabetes”