A Public Health Professor has stressed the importance of the public making deliberate endeavors to address the factors that contribute to the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country.

During the 2023 Joseph S. Agyepong Distinguished Lecture on Public Health in Africa held in Accra, Professor Peter Lamptey emphasized the personal responsibility of individuals in controlling the alarming levels of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

He stated that the causes of these diseases are often attributed to the actions and inactions of those who suffer from them, highlighting the need for individuals to take control.

Professor Lamptey pointed out that while Africa still grapples with a significant burden of communicable diseases, there is a rapidly increasing prevalence of NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and mental health disorders.

Consequently, there is an urgent need to address the risk factors associated with NCDs.

The professor highlighted tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, unhealthy dietary practices, and physical inactivity as some of the risk factors.

He stressed the importance of personal responsibility in disease prevention rather than relying solely on medical professionals and healthcare systems for cure.

In summary, Professor Lamptey emphasized the need for individuals to personally take charge of reducing the risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases and acknowledged the growing burden of NCDs in Africa alongside the existing burden of communicable diseases.

“We cannot rely on doctors or the health systems, the onus is on us,” he said.