NCDs and Sequestered Disease

SARS and Ebola outbreak caused the world to wake up and become aware that disease is not sequestered within a geographical boundary.  However the poor and poorer countries bear the burden of these diseases. As money is being funnel into cures and interventions of these diseases, diabetes, CVD and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are outpacing globalization of infectious disease because: (1) there is a weak compatibility with existing security frameworks (2) difficult to treat because of multiple determinants leading to difficulties in prevention, containment or treatment and (3) the threat is not immediate and may be deferred.

In the past frameworks were not developed to treat NCDs because they were considered prevalent cases and not new case (incidence) or recurring cases. Because the etiology of the disease and modifying factors were varied. Today WHO and others are taking a systematic look at frameworks and assessment of an integrated surveillance of NCD to address policy and strategy developments. So why were NCD overlooked and underestimated.

NCD’s were endemic to western and developed countries, however, with the increase in western lifestyle in developing countries the incidence of NCDs began to rise. Globalization, that supposed free flow of trade, resource etc., does not take into account the culture, norms or lifestyle of developing countries. While the model of globalization insist that we are all free and equal to trade, the burden of those trade deficits impacts the developing world at a greater rate.  Take for instance the fact that with globalization, countries with a population that depended on farming and producing fresh food and open markets are now relying on canned imports and fast food from global corporations like McDonalds, KFC. This is unsustainable because many in the developing world live a lifestyle that is slower than that of the developing world.  Dietary norms that were followed in developing countries are now being replaced by that of the western world. The act of farming and gardening and walking to an open market provided necessary exercise and community interaction. The added sugars, fats, and substrates to packaged food, without the necessary investment in energy expenditure creates risk factors for NCDs. 

While the developed world is worried about non NCDs crossing border we were systematically introducing the agents of NCD into to the developing world.  The developing world has now has to face the impact of NDs as well as other communicable diseases on an already impoverished economy and health care system. Globalization comes as a cost, and many times the developing world is the one left to pay the bill without the benefits.