Noncommunicable Diseases

TABLE 6A.4 Translated and interpreted excerpts of the Gulf Plan for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases

GOAL OBJECTIVE

Goal 1: Address the primary prevention of NCDs Halt increase in the rates of overweight and obesity

Halt increase in the prevalence of diabetes

Achieve a 10% relative decrease in the prevalence of inadequate physical activity

Achieve a 30% relative decrease in the prevalence of tobacco use among individuals 15 years of age or older

Achieve a 25% relative decrease in the prevalence of hypertension Achieve a 30% relative decrease in the average salt or sodium intake of the population Lower fat intake

Increase the rate of vegetable consumption per capita

Prevent cancer

Goal 2: Enhance the secondary prevention of NCDs Detect NCDs and risk factors early

INDICATORS

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents Age-standardized prevalence rate of overweight and obesity among adults 18 years of age or older;a for adolescents, this identifier is determined according to growth reference criteria Age-standardized prevalence rate for high blood glucose or blood sugar levels among people 18 years of age or olderb

Age-standardized prevalence of adults with little physical activity 18 years of age or olderc

Prevalence of inadequate physical activity among adolescentsd

Standardized prevalence of tobacco among adolescents Standardized prevalence of tobacco use among adults 18 years or older Age-standardized prevalence of hypertension among adults 18 years of age or oldere

Standard mean salt intake by age per day in population groups 18 years of age or older

Average ratio of saturated fatty acids to total energy intake by age in adults 18 years of age or older Age-standardized prevalence rate of elevated total cholesterol level among adults ages 18 years or olderf

Age-standardized prevalence rate of adults 18 years of age or older who consume inadequate portions of fruits and vegetables dailyg

% of children 1 year of age who are vaccinated with three doses of hepatitis B vaccination

Availability of human papillomavirus infection vaccination if economically feasible according to national policies % of individuals surveyed to detect risk factors from target groups

IMPLEMENTATION APPROACHES

Implement field and media awareness programs and campaigns on risk factors and ways to avoid them

Develop and implement the national strategy on food, physical activity, and health (in light of World Health Organization’s global strategy) Include and intensify physical activity as a basic subject in schools Implement campaigns to encourage walking in the community Encourage the establishment of more walking paths and public parks within a reasonable distance of residents

Improve the quality of food provided in school canteens Develop a proposal for legislation that reduces risk factors such as: • Labeling laws for foods, drinks, salt, and trans fats • Advertising for fast food • Tobacco control laws • Public health laws • National policies to limit the consumption of saturated fatty acids and effectively end the use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils in food supplies, as appropriate within the national context and national programs • Policies to reduce the vulnerability of children to the marketing of foods and nonalcoholic drinks high in saturated fats, free sugars, or salt

Enhance the role of primary health care in early detection Implement a comprehensive and integrated program for early detection of chronic diseases and risk factors in primary health care (opportunistic screening or systematic screening)

(continued)

TABLE 6A.4, continued

GOAL OBJECTIVE

Goal 3: Improve the quality of health services provided at the three levels to patients with NCDs and their complications Ensure that at least 80% of public and private sector facilities have available modern technologies and affordable basic medicines, including generic medicines, necessary to treat major NCDs Ensure that at least 50% of people eligible for drug therapy to prevent heart attacks and strokes receive medication and medical advice (including blood sugar control) Find and update guides for health workers in the field of NCDs on a regular basis Extend the application of the guidelines according to the indicators

Enact a clear policy for the referral system from primary care to secondary and specialist care

INDICATORS

% of primary health care centers in the public and private sector in which basic medicines and essential technology are availableh

% of eligible persons (adults 40 years of age or older) who receive treatment and medical advice, including advice about how to control blood sugar, to prevent heart attacks and strokesi

Presence of updated national guidelines for the clinical practice of NCDs based on evidence

% of physicians applying the guidelines for workers in the treatment of NCDs

Presence of an effective referral system between primary and secondary care

Goal 4: Conduct and strengthen research and study tools for NCDs Promote studies and research of national health systems related to NCDs Number of studies on NCDs related to national health systems research

Goal 5: Enable patients and their families to manage and control NCDs Involve patients and their families in taking responsibility for managing their health % of patients who are able to control NCDs, among all health service attendees

Goal 6: Community partnership for NCD control Activate partnerships with government and nongovernment institutions, the private sector, and civil society in assuming national responsibility to confront NCDs Establish a national council or national multisectoral committee to promote health and control NCDs

IMPLEMENTATION APPROACHES

Establish (or complete) NCD clinics in primary health care Establish smoking cessation clinics Provide diagnostic and laboratory services to primary health care centers

Provide necessary medicines to treat NCDs in all primary health care centers

Ensure availability of human resources for health to treat NCDs in primary and secondary care Provide continued professional development in the field of care and control of NCDs for all health workers

Establish diabetes units in reference hospitals Establish specialized centers for treating cardiovascular diseases and their complications and rehabilitating patients Establish cancer treatment centers in reference hospitals Ensure the availability of services for palliative treatment for cancer

Conduct research and surveys such as: • A national survey for NCDs and risk factors every five years • Studies on the economic burden of diabetes • Tobacco research • Nutrition research • Lifestyle research Provide patient training in self-care Implement individual and group educational programs for patients and their families within the primary care services

Provide the necessary diagnostics, treatment, and rehabilitation

Establish joint programs and activities between the relevant authorities

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