Combating non-communicable diseases in Asia by engaging community health workers in the management and prevention efforts: Strategies, approaches and practice (The COACH Study): Final report

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the major causes of disease burden and mortality in the Asia Pacific region, claiming 55% of total life in the South East Asia region each year and 75% in the Western Pacific region [1, 2], and will account for up to 80 per cent of all deaths and 40 per cent of all morbidity by 2030 [3]. This increase in NCDs mortality and morbidity would negatively affect overall socioeconomic development of the country and will pose threat to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by 2030 [4]. The faster economic growth and epidemiologic and societal transition in many Asian countries encouraged environmental and lifestyles, and triggered an increase in NCDs. However, healthcare systems of most of the countries in the region (i.e. Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Vietnam) is not yet prepared to mitigate this growing burden of NCDs. Addressing this growing threat from NCDs would require multi-faceted approach and collaboration among professions and institutions that have traditionally worked separately. As the first contact to receive health care, primary health care (PHC) system, would face significant pressure to address the need of these growing NCDs. To ensure an equitable supply of PHC services to the populations in need, particularly those in remote or rural locations, is a challenge for governments in these countries. The scarcity of healthcare facilities, lack of trained medical professionals (i.e. doctors, nurses) and long distance between the community and the nearest health facility, underscore the need for alternate models for service delivery to reach each sector of the public with necessary service and affordable medications.