Non-communicable diseases news, research and analysis - the conversation

June 1, 2025 Madhu Neupane Bastola, _Hong Kong Polytechnic University_ and Margo Louise Turnbull, _Hong Kong Polytechnic University_ People with cancer are vulnerable to verbal

microaggressions. Learn what they look like and how to reduce their impact here. March 3, 2024 Susan Goldstein, _University of the Witwatersrand_; Mark Tomlinson, _Stellenbosch University_;

Rachel Wynberg, _University of Cape Town_, and Tanya Doherty, _South African Medical Research Council_ Financial links between corporations and health research invariably lead to conflicts

of interest. June 21, 2023 Catherine Kyobutungi, _African Population and Health Research Center_ Kenya’s experienced fast population growth and urbanisation - this has brought about some big

challenges. September 16, 2021 Dickson Abanimi Amugsi, _African Population and Health Research Center_ Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding has increased across all countries but few are

likely to meet the 2030 goal of 70%. July 8, 2020 Dr Reagan Mogire, _KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme_ Vitamin D has been shown to regulate the function of 229 genes in humans,

suggesting that it plays many roles in maintaining health. March 7, 2018 Jeremy Schwartz, _Yale University_ and Mari Armstrong-Hough, _Yale University_ In Uganda, essential medicines are not

being stocked at facilities that need them most. This includes drugs to treat chronic diseases. July 25, 2017 Tolullah Oni, _University of Cape Town_ and Natacha Berkowitz, _University of

Cape Town_ The increase in cases of non-communicable diseases in developing countries has led to an emerging pattern of high levels of multimorbidity. July 23, 2017 Stuart Ali, _University

of the Witwatersrand_ and Francesco Xavier Gomez-Olive Casas, _University of the Witwatersrand_ Although hypertension can easily be detected in Africa, up to half of the population are

unaware of their condition. February 15, 2017 Zandile Mchiza, _Human Sciences Research Council_ Research shows poorer black South Africans are disproportionately exposed to food-related

advertising that promotes the consumption of fatty, unhealthy foods. February 2, 2017 Hettie Carina Schönfeldt, _University of Pretoria_; Beulah Pretorius, _University of Pretoria_, and

Nicolette Hall, _University of Pretoria_ The reality is that the move to introduce a sugar tax in South Africa is necessary because of the scourge of non-communicable diseases and obesity in

the country. November 6, 2016 Michele Ramsay, _University of the Witwatersrand_ Cracking genetic responses to the changing environment in Africa would open a new frontier in the drive

against rising non-communicable diseases on the continent. November 1, 2016 Ophira Ginsburg, _University of Toronto_; Lesong Conteh, _Imperial College London_; Lynette Denny, _University of

Cape Town_, and Richard Sullivan, _King's College London_ Of women who die from cervical cancer, 87% live in poor countries. October 5, 2016 Janine Bezuidenhoudt, _University of

Pretoria_ In developing countries mental health care generally takes a backseat when it comes to allocating resources. September 25, 2016 Charles Shey Wiysonge, _Stellenbosch University_ and

Muki Shey, _University of Cape Town_ An index developed to gauge progress towards the sustainable development goals and their targets shows that nine of the world’s worst performing

countries are in Africa. August 28, 2016 Susan Goldstein, _University of the Witwatersrand_ Marketers take advantage of the fact that children sometimes can’t recognise the difference

between product placement and advertising. June 12, 2016 Nicholas N Ngomi, _African Population and Health Research Center_ Genomic research must take place in Africa because African

populations have evolved significantly and their genetic composition is more diverse than that of populations elsewhere. April 29, 2016 Catherine Kyobutungi, _African Population and Health

Research Center_ Non-communicable diseases are skyrocketing in Kenya and Uganda. Though the countries’ governments have a responsibility to tackle the problem, individuals need to take

action too. April 14, 2016 Lauren Graham, _University of Johannesburg_ In-school nutrition programmes can reduce the chances of children suffering from childhood obesity. March 23, 2016 Anna

Coussens, _University of Cape Town_ and Allison Seeger, _University of Cape Town_ In countries such as South Africa with a high burden of TB and HIV, vitamin D could be an extremely

effective and cheap weapon to include in the arsenal against TB and HIV. March 4, 2016 Zelra Malan, _Stellenbosch University_ Doctors in South Africa have not been doing enough counselling

of people who drink, smoke, don’t exercise and eat badly on ways to change their lifestyles.