EDITORIAL
SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE
ing to increased consumption of processed food, resulting in an
upsurge of saturated fat, trans fats, salt and refined sugars in the
diet.
In an article on new legislation regarding trans fatty acids in food,
we read that Government is regulating this by law. The Department
of Health is to be congratulated on this legislation which tries to
protect the consumer against unsafe foods. The average South
African consumer does not read labels or is unsure of what they
mean and how to interpret them. Even healthcare professionals
often do not know the recommended intake of the different fats.
Removal of these unsafe products in foods should therefore be
strongly supported.
In this issue, we also provide data from the Nutritional Information
Centre, University of Stellenbosch (NICUS), which has responded to
the new regulations on trans fatty acids with valuable advice for
both health educators and patients.
Intervention Strategies
Co-ordinated multisectorial partnerships are required to sustainably
prevent and manage NCDs. Government needs to prioritise preven-
tion and control strategies and revitalise primary healthcare. The
fact that many NCDs are long-term diseases demands a compre-
hensive healthcare system response that brings together a trained
workforce with appropriate skills, affordable technologies, reliable
supplies of medicines, referral systems and the empowerment of
people for self care, all over a sustained period of time. Sustained
primary healthcare measures encompassing essential interventions,
palliative and long-term care are required. Preventive and health-
care interventions relating to such diseases should be integrated
into reproductive, maternal and child health programmes, espe-
cially at the primary healthcare level.
The private sector should promote healthy behaviour and
improve affordability and accessibility to healthy lifestyle choices.
Initiatives by the food industry in reformulation of healthier products
and in exercising responsible marketing are crucial. Suggested
population-wide interventions include promoting public awareness
on diet and physical activity. Civil society should support community
awareness campaigns.
The knowledge and technology to fight the onset and effects
on NCDs, particularly type 2 diabetes, already exists. It’s time for
action; the moral, social and economic imperative is clear.
Source: Report of the Secretary-General, United Nations General Assembly, sixty-sixth
session. Item 119 of preliminary list. Prevention and control of non-communicable
diseases.
Important dates:
•
Abstract submissions by: 15 November 2011
•
Early Bird Registration closes: 30 November 2011
Enquiries:
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F I N A L A N N O U N C E M E N T
Invited International Faculty
Professor William L. Carroll (USA)
Dr Scott Howard (USA)
Dr Mhamed Harif (Morocco)
Professor Rolf Dieter Kortmann (Germany)
Celebrating African Excellence
Celebration de l’excellence Africaine
Liesl Hartman
(SIOP Africa logo design),
Wilfred Schrie (graphics,
WJRS Print Enterprises)
21–23 March
Woodstock • Cape Town, South Africa
AFRICA 2012
Parents, Professionals & Nurses
