Abstract
ProblemSamoa has been struggling to address the burden of noncommunicable diseases at the health system, community and individual levels.ApproachThe World Health Organization (WHO) package of essential noncommunicable disease interventions for primary health care in low-resource settings was adopted in seven villages throughout Samoa in 2015. The National Steering Committee Members designed and implemented a screening process, and local facilitators and health-care workers collected health and lifestyle data. The WHO/International Society of Hypertension risk assessment was used on villagers older than 40 years to identify people at high risk of noncommunicable disease.Local settingSamoa is a small island developing state with increasing morbidity and mortality due to noncommunicable diseases. A national representative survey indicated that 50.1% (595/1188) of the Samoan adult population is at high risk of such diseases. High numbers of noncommunicable diseases are undiagnosed or untreated, because of shortage of health-care staff and lack of awareness of risk factors.Relevant changesThe teams collected data from 2234 adults. For people older than 40 years, 6.7% (54/804) were identified as being at high-risk and were encouraged to seek treatment or manage risk factors. Community members developed an awareness programme to improve understanding of lifestyle risk factors.Lessons learntEngaging community members was crucial in conducting a successful screening campaign. By identifying those villagers at high risk of developing noncommunicable diseases, early intervention was possible. Education improved awareness of the symptom-free nature of early-stage noncommunicable diseases.
Highlights
More than 90% of premature and largely preventable deaths from noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancers, chronic lung diseases and diabetes, occur in low- and middle-income countries.[1]
The social burden associated with noncommunicable diseases includes prolonged disability, diminished resources within families and reduced productivity, in addition to tremendous demands on health systems.[2]
We describe how the first two protocols of the World Health Organization (WHO) package were adapted and implemented to suit the local context in Samoa, engaging the community and training local facilitators in the use of early detection and assessment tools, with the aims of: (i) strengthening links between health services and the community; and (ii) meeting the global target of at least 50% of eligible people receiving treatment and counselling through early detection and management of noncommunicable diseases.[5]
Summary
Adapting the WHO package of essential noncommunicable disease interventions, Samoa. Caroline Bollars,a Take Naseri,b Robert Thomsen,b Cherian Varghese,c Kristine Sørensen,d Nanne de Vriesa & Ree Meertensa. Approach The World Health Organization (WHO) package of essential noncommunicable disease interventions for primary health care in low-resource settings was adopted in seven villages throughout Samoa in 2015. The WHO/International Society of Hypertension risk assessment was used on villagers older than 40 years to identify people at high risk of noncommunicable disease. High numbers of noncommunicable diseases are undiagnosed or untreated, because of shortage of health-care staff and lack of awareness of risk factors. Community members developed an awareness programme to improve understanding of lifestyle risk factors. Lessons learnt Engaging community members was crucial in conducting a successful screening campaign. By identifying those villagers at high risk of developing noncommunicable diseases, early intervention was possible. Education improved awareness of the symptom-free nature of early-stage noncommunicable diseases
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