1. East Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC)
4th WHO-IUMSP International Seminar on Public Health Aspects of Noncommunicable Diseases
Aulac Hotel
Lausanne, Switzerland
7-12th March, 2011
Dorothy Namuchimba
Manager-Food Security and Nutrition
Arusha, Tanzania

2. ECSA Health Community is a---
Regional inter-governmental health organization operating in ten countries in the region
Promotes and encourages efficiency and relevance in the provision of health services in the region
Fosters and strengthens regional cooperation and capacity to address the health needs of member states

3. A brief History Founded under Commonwealth secretariat in 1974
Became autonomous in 1980 under direct control of Member State governments
Officially re-named ECSA Health Community in 2002 reflecting member country ownership

4. Ten Member Countries Lesotho Malawi Mauritius Seychelles Swaziland
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mauritius
Seychelles
Swaziland
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

5. Governance Conference of Health Ministers Advisory Committee
Directors’ Joint Consultative Committee
Secretariat

6. Technical Programmes
Human Resource for Health Development and Capacity Building
Family and Reproductive Health
Food and Nutrition Security
Health Systems and Services Development
HIV/AIDS & Infectious Diseases
Research Information & Advocacy

7. Food Security and Nutrition Programme
Mandate:
To undertake activities that contribute to the reduction of malnutrition in the ECSA region
2 Strategic Objectives :
Contribute to the improvement of nutrition, food safety and food security in order to attain good health in ECSA region.
Strengthen capacity of Member States for prevention and control of communicable and non communicable diseases in the ECSA region

8. NCDs in ECSA Generally, All the countries are doing something on NCDs.
Countries are at different levels, some more advanced than others
Not comprehensive enough to be called adequate
Mauritius has a comprehensive program with structures to the lowest level to process, manage, treat and follow up. Others, Tz, kenya, uganda

9. Main Challenges Non existent or weak surveillance systems
Data on various NCDs remain scanty and incomplete
Weak health systems which are fragmented, inadequately coordinated and under-resourced
Poor linkages between Health systems and other sectors-Agric, Education, trade and industry, Transport, Urban planning, private sector, work places schools and communities.

10. Challenges Cont’d
Capacity of health systems to tackle NCDs is weakened by Human resources for health crisis
Resulting from low production of skilled professionals
Low morale and motivation due to low salaries and poor working conditions and migration
Programmes remain weak, fragmented and under funded.

11. Regional Initiates
Repeated resolutions passed during the health ministers conference
A number of countries have conducted surveys to determine prevalence (Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles), others about to
Tanzania initiated an NCD mortality Transitions project

12. Initiatives Cont’d
Development of Regional NCD strategy
NCD focal person based at ECSA
Create a Regional NCD data base
Harmonize

13. Thank you

25. Strategic Direction 4. Indigenous Foods
Advocate for policy to support production and consumption of indigenous foods and to create local demand and Bio-fortification
5. Health Promotion
Strengthen cross-sectoral linkages for Health promotion of Diet related diseases in Health and education.

26. Partners
USAID/EA
UNICEF, WFP
AH2010
A2Z MI
RCQHC
Member States