Exploring the burden of non-communicable diseases on surgical services in Africa: a comprehensive literature review

Introduction:Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) encompass five major categories: cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, mental health disorders, and chronic respiratory diseases. The burden of NCDs is rising in Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, having increased by 67% from 1990 to 2017, which puts additional pressure on healthcare services. Although most treatments for NCDs are non-surgical, surgical intervention plays a crucial role in managing many of these diseases. Unfortunately, barriers to accessing surgical care for NCDs remain in Africa.Methods:A comprehensive literature review was conducted employing the following search databases: AJOL, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar. Search strategies that combined terms pertaining to "non-communicable disease," "surgical care," and "Africa" were utilized.Results:The main barriers to surgical access in the management of NCDs in Africa include restricted financial resources, a lack of adequate infrastructure, and deficiencies in competent surgical training. Measures to improve surgical intervention associated with NCDs include international collaborations, improved education and training of professionals, and the use of mobile technology tools.Discussion:There is a need to implement strategies that seek to improve access to surgery for the treatment of NCDs on the African continent. Some of these strategies involve multi-professional action alongside the establishment of prevention actions and policies aimed at the management of NCDs. Furthermore, support from the governments of each nation, as well as ongoing research on the subject, also contribute to better development of surgical care for these diseases in the African context.