The Catholic University of West Africa – University Unit of Bobo-Dioulasso (UCAO-UUB) officially launched on Friday the Stop-NCD project, worth more than one billion CFA francs with a duration of 5 years, in the city of Sya to fight against non-communicable diseases in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Niger.
Populations in most West African countries are facing an increase in cases of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancers, cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory diseases, especially among the elderly and those who do not practice sport.
Based on this observation, the Catholic University of West Africa – University Unit of Bobo-Dioulasso (UCAO-UUB) has set up a research project called Stop-NCD (note, non-communicable diseases in English) in Bobo-Dioulasso, with the support of the National institute for health and care research (NIHR).
The said project, lasting 5 years and financed at more than 1 billion CFA francs, was launched on Friday, June 30, 2023, in the presence of administrative authorities, international research institutions, organizations active in the fight against diseases Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Stakeholders
. According to the general coordinator of the Stop-NCD project, Dr. Maurice Yahogo, these diseases are the cause of the death of more than 41 million people in the world.
In Burkina Faso, he said, the mortality rate from this pandemic is 35%.
For Dr. Yahogo, the objective of Stop-NCD aims to fight against non-communicable diseases, to improve the health of the suffering people and this, with the support of the ministry in charge of health.
“This project has two components, the first of which aims to provide evidence on what we do not know about non-communicable diseases and the second component, which I will call the action component, aims to bring together stakeholders and implement research,” he added.
This health aid project will concern three West African countries, namely Burkina Faso, Ghana and Niger.
According to the representative of the Nazi Boni University, Vincent Sanon, these non-communicable diseases are due on the one hand to poor diet and lack of physical effort and on the other, to the abusive use of means of transport.
Mr. Sanon expressed the availability of the Nazi Boni University for any help that could contribute to the progress of the project.
The representative of the governor of the Hauts-Bassins region, N’Golo Barro, noted that scientific research is a real driver for the well-being of the population.
Mr. Barro welcomed the initiative of the Stop-NCD project. “With the implementation of this project, I remain confident that it will provide a solution to eradicate non-communicable diseases in our country. It therefore deserves to be encouraged,” he argued.
He reaffirmed the availability of the regional authorities to support this project. For Father Paul Ouédraogo, representative of the Archbishop of Bobo-Dioulasso, also vice-president of UCAO-UUB, this project needs everyone’s support in order to achieve its objectives.
N’Golo Barro also invited the youth, the government and all people of good will to facilitate the work of the actors.
Source: Burkina Information Agency