Hypertensive diseases are the leading cause of death in the Free State.
Mathabo Leeto, MEC for Health, revealed the alarming findings during a campaign of Non-Communicable Diseases and Healthy Lifestyle held in Bloemfontein on 16 May.
Leeto said in South Africa, diabetes mellitus and hypertensive diseases were rated as the second most common cause of death; and the sixth leading underlying cause of death.
She said the findings were based on data collected from 2016 to 2018.
Leeto said the data further revealed that the proportions of death due to diabetes mellitus and hypertensive diseases increased over the three years.
She said the importance of the findings should encourage the public to seriously consider following healthy diet and healthy lifestyle.
In terms of gender, Leeto said diabetes mellitus was the leading underlying cause of death amongst females and was ranked fourth for males.
“The leading cause of death in the Free State is hypertensive diseases at 6,0%, and diabetes mellitus at 5,4%,” said Leeto.
She said her department had embarked on fast-tracking the implementation of the 2022-2027 National Strategic Plan (NSP) for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, aimed at reducing, preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases, as well as associated risk factors.
“The National Strategic Plan demands of provinces to implement the 90-60-50 cascade-based strategy. The cascade states that 90% of all people over 18 years will know whether or not they have raised blood pressure and blood glucose.
“Therefore, 60% of people with raised blood pressure or blood glucose will receive intervention. Those at 50% will receive interventions,” said Leeto.
She said early detection of non-communicable diseases was important at primary health care level.
Leeto said from the 2019-’20 financial year to 2023-’24, approximately 2 million people over the age of 18 and older in the province were screened for hypertension and diabetes.
On average 0,7% were found to be eligible for treatment.
The Free State province is performing well on the screening targets across the board.
However, the percentage of people who were put on treatment varies across the districts, with the lowest being in Thabo Mofutsanyana, followed by the Lejweleputswa District.
“This means that the first cascade of 90% was achieved, but the second cascade of 60% was not achieved.
“This further means that we need to identify more people who are eligible to be put on treatment, through the strengthening of comprehensive management of illnesses at all levels of care”.
In 2019-’20, about 84% of those tested had their blood glucose level controlled, and while the trend dropped to 34% in 2020-’21 it is now on the upward trend again to 48% in 2021-22; 52% in 2022-’23; and 55% in 2023-’24.
