Poor service provision and lack of awareness remain the major challenges in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs), resulting in many patients not seeking medical care, it has come to light.

Speaking in Blantyre on Friday on the sidelines of a review meeting for a World Diabetes Foundation Non-Communicable Disease project, senior programme manager Mads Loftager Mundt called for increased awareness and investment in service delivery.

“About 50 percent of NCD patients do not know they have the condition. NCDs have not received as much attention as communicable diseases,” he said.

Mundt, however, hailed efforts by partners in closing the gaps, saying there has been progress in terms of awareness leading to high demand for drugs and other services.

Diabetes Association of Malawi president Clement Mandala bemoaned continued shortage of drugs, equipment and long-distances to health centres.

Partners in Health programme manager Asana Magombo, whose organisation is one of the implementing partners, said they have created a lot of demand for NCD services from communities.

He said they are distributing blood pressure machines and glucometers to screen people in hard-to-reach areas.

Ministry of Health assistant director of clinical services responsible for NCDs Hastings Chiumia said they have signed a service level agreement with Christian Health Association of Malawi so that they provide NCD services for free.

According to the Lancet Commission 2018, the burden of NCDs in Malawi is at 35 percent.

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