A Koh Kong provincial health department official educates members of the public about the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, in order to prevent diabetes and high blood pressure. Koh Kong Provincial Administration
The Ministry of Health is stepping up its education campaign on non-communicable diseases, particularly diabetes and high blood pressure, as the prevalence of these diseases is rising in Asia, including Cambodia. It is estimated that between four to six per cent of the Cambodian population has diabetes.
Now, when you make a call, you will hear a ringback voice message: "Eating low-fat, low-salt and low-sugar foods and exercising every day can prevent diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and other non-communicable diseases. We can all start now."
Ministry spokesman Koy Vanny said that the message is part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to raise public awareness.
“We have not just started this initiative now. We have been and will continue to intensify our efforts to reduce non-communicable diseases, particularly diabetes and high blood pressure, which are causing deaths all over the world, and Cambodia is no exception,” he said.
The spokeman noted that Asian countries have higher rates of these diseases compared to European countries, making it a high-risk region if preventive measures are not taken now for future generations.
“The increase in these diseases is a global trend, with the number of patients rising two to three times higher than usual, especially in Asia, where the increase is sharper than in Europe,” he said.
However, Vanny mentioned that there are no specific figures for these cases in Cambodia.
“We do not have exact figures, but we know that diabetes affects no less than five per cent of the population. High blood pressure is slightly less common than diabetes but still significant. This issue is not unique to Cambodia,” he explained.
“Countries like Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand are also seeing an increase in these diseases due to economic advancements, higher food consumption, more fast food, fewer home-cooked meals, less exercise and weight gain. All these factors contribute to the rise in diabetes and high blood pressure,” he added.
Vanny suggested that the only way to prevent them is to educate people to reduce their intake of salt, meat, fat and sugar, and to exercise regularly.
He said that in the new mandate, the ministry has made the prevention and control of diabetes and high blood pressure a priority and strives to better disseminate information and treat patients.
The ministry has urged officials to educate citizens about protecting themselves from these conditions at health centres and district and provincial referral hospitals, in addition to using the ministry's social media platforms.
Other educational messages from the ministry include: "Low salt, fat and sugar intake brings good heart health and longevity", along with instructions on appropriate intake levels.
Sum Satha, a specialist in diabetes, endocrinology and endocrinology at Calmette Hospital, believes that the ministry's increased education is beneficial in reminding people to protect themselves from these conditions.
“Normally, as our economy grows, non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes also increase, similar to other developed countries in the region. When a country develops, Western food influences the eating habits of our people. People eat more, live comfortably and do not exercise much,” he said.
Recently, Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital announced that nearly 700 children with type 1 diabetes are receiving treatment across their branches in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap province.
Children with type 1 diabetes are between four and 14 years old, with the highest rate among 10- to 14-year-olds. Out of 698 patients, the hospital’s branch in Siem Reap has 309.
According to the National Multilateral Action Plan on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2018-2027, social development and national economic growth, as well as lifestyle changes, are the main reasons for the increase.
In 2014, non-communicable diseases accounted for 52 per cent of all deaths in the country. This figure is projected to continue rising.
Cardiovascular disease is the most common non-communicable condition in Cambodia, causing 24 per cent of deaths, followed by cancer at 13 per cent, chronic respiratory disease at four per cent and diabetes at two per cent of total mortality in 2018.
However, 80 per cent of these can be prevented by addressing four risk factors: tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity, as per the action plan.
