Africa must spend 'a lot more' on non-communicable disease

To overcome the barriers and deal with a changing health situation on the continent, African health scientists need more funding and support according to the the World Health Summit held in Berlin, Germany recently. Infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS, are expected to decline while non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, will increase in Africa over the coming decades. Olive Shisana, chief executive officer of the South African Human Sciences Research Council said thet "Africa's investment in infrastructure is inadequate, especially at a time when our continent is going through an epidemiological transition. Many of these diseases can be prevented by putting scientific research and health technologies to work and affords the continent the opportunity to build capacity and to collaborate to tackle these diseases together for the benefit of the globe".