Over 31.4 billion Br loss is recorded from direct and indirect costs of non-communicable diseases annually, according to a study presented by Health Development and Anti-malaria Association. Panellists in the medical field presented their papers on the growing threat and how to address the problem at a workshop organized by the Association at the Inter Luxury Hotel on Guinea Conakry Street last week. Mussie GebreMichael (MD), a participant from the Ministry of Health, said the health burden of non-communicable diseases is growing at a breakneck pace accounting for 34.2pc of the total number of deaths recorded in 2019. According to Mussie, heart and artillery diseases take the lead at 14pc while chronic respiratory disease follows at 2.5pc and sugar and kidney failure account for four percent of the death toll. He stressed that diseases related to high concentrations of sugar, salt and saturated fat should not be overlooked as unhealthy foods are the factors accounting for 18.3pc of premature deaths. Editors' Note: This article is updated from its original version on August 30, 2023.