Headed by Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Emine Alp Meşe, a presentation meeting was held in the Ministry of Health premises co-hosted by the Ministry of Health and World Health Organization (WHO) to analyse contribution of prevention of chronic diseases to socio-economic status.
During her address, Deputy Minister Emine Alp Meşe underlined that the primary goal was to ensure a health ageing by extending healthy life years, sharing quality time with families; for example grandparent to have fun times playing with grandchildren in a state of well-being; without being dependent on anyone.
Meşe added that the target is to prevent more than 1 million premature deaths and added that:” according to the data, chronic diseases constitute 87.5% of all deaths in Turkey. These diseases can lead losses not only to people who have the disease but also to families and relatives as they necessitate dependence on others.”
Highlighting the importance of reduction of salt consumption and tobacco use and increasing physical activity Meşe said: “we aim to reduce salt consumption from 9.2 gram to 5; tobacco use from 30.9% to 29%, and inactivity rates from 41.7% to 32%.”
Meşe concluded that through prevention and control of chronic diseases, a significant contribution could be made to the economy amounting to some 350 billion USD.
Speaking at the meeting Dr Pavel Ursu, World Health Organization Representative to Turkey expressed that Turkey has taken significant steps in prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
Ursu added that counteracting chronic diseases would not only decrease morbidity and mortality rates but also provide support to economy. “Turkey is adopting control activities against 9 chronic diseases. I would like to thank Turkey for the usual collaboration.”
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