7TH NCD SEMINAR SIERRA LEONE 6 million population 37% resides in urban areas Life expectancy:47 yrs(M),49 yrs (F) Population below $1 a day (70%) GoSL allocation to health: 8% of GDP ($18.4 M) 4 regions, 14 districts, 149 chiefdoms Capital city is Freetown

NCD Situation in Sierra Leone 17% current drinkers 14% males and 5% females of the population engaged in heavy episodic drinking respectively. 34% currently use tobacco( 26% smoking tobacco and 8% using smokeless tobacco) 74% and 69% of non-smokers are exposed to tobacco smoke at home and workplace respectively 35% of the population have raised blood pressure with only 7% on medications Average BMI is 23 kg/m2, 22% classified as overweight and 8% obese. 91% of the population consumes less than 5 servings of fruits and/or vegetables on average per day 87% had sedentary lifestyles Evidence from hospital-based morbidity data also shows an increasing trend of cardiovascular diseases including hypertension and strokes; diabetes; cancers; sickle cell disease and epilepsy.

specific initiative to better improve the management of NCD conditions at the primary health care level Training on WHOPEN conducted Piloted the WHOPEN tool in 20 selected PHUs in the Bo district and Western Area to test its appropriateness and where possible and indicated adapt the tool to meet local needs

CHALLENGES Unplanned urbanization, Unregulated tobacco , food and beverage industries, Poor road conditions and network, Unregulated drink driving, Integration of NCDs into PHC, Mainstreaming NCDs in the presence of competing priorities, Funding for the prevention and control of NCDs, Institutional, community and public policy changes for incorporation of NCD prevention and control, Integrating surveillance of NCDs and their common  risk factors.

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