NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SYNDEMICS AMONG LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS: PAKISTAN AND WAY FORWARD

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have substantially contributed to morbidity and mortality of populations. The emergence of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 pandemic took centre stage toppling over the global health and economies leading to high morbidity and mortality rates. Presently as many as one in five with underlying NCDs are at risk of severe Covid-19[3].In May 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) undertook a fast evaluation survey, which revealed that 75% of nations have experienced service outages related to NCDs. Public health campaigns and NCD surveillance programmes were among the hardest damaged. Gains against COVID-19 are hollow wins when the risky interactions between NCDs and virus infection are not perceived as syndemics along with social and economic disparities.