There is a need for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to adopt healthy lifestyles to address the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) that Botswana and all the countries in the region face. 
Delivering the keynote address during the SADC Healthy Lifestyle Day Commemoration hosted by the National Coordinator for National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA) at Tsholofelo Park in Gaborone, Botswana, on 25th February 2022, the SADC Executive Secretary, His Excellency Mr Elias M. Magosi, underscored that in Southern Africa, as is in most parts of the world, lifestyle challenges and standards of living are presently altering the disease landscape resulting in NCDs such as heart and respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancers being on the rise, and likely to result in an unwanted consequence of unhealthy and ageing population.
Held under the theme ‘Risk Factors of Today Are Diseases of Tomorrow’ the event aimed at raising awareness and threats posed by NCDs. The occasion was also a stimulant to solicit participation in healthy lifestyles such as the promotion of good health through regular physical activities, healthy eating, tobacco control as well as interventions against the harmful use of alcohol and substance abuse.
H.E Magosi also outlined interventions that SADC has put in place in response to the fast rise in NCDs, including conducting research in order to understand the levels, patterns, and trends of these diseases and continued coordination efforts to ensure that measures aimed at preventing and controlling these diseases are consistent across the Region. He further appraised the facilitator role of the SADC Secretariat in providing a regional guide to the SADC Member States in the prevention and management of overweight and obesity, which he said was a growing concern in SADC, highlighting that in collaboration with cooperating partners, the Secretariat has successfully developed several tools, including the Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs), which have been adopted by the SADC Member States.
According to the WHO country profile for Botswana (2018), out of a total of 16 000 deaths, 46% were attributed to NCDs.
Speaking at the commemoration, the WHO Country Representative for Botswana, Dr Josephine Namboze, reiterated the great collaboration between WHO and the SADC Member States and further applauded the collective efforts by implementing and coordinating agencies in ensuring that all different actions are leading to a healthier and prosperous society and making sure that everyone has access to services and adequate knowledge and information in relation to matters of their health and well-being. 
Standing in for the Minister of Health and Wellness for the Republic of Botswana, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, the Deputy Permanent Secretary responsible for Health Services, Monitoring, Evaluation and Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Health and Wellness for the Republic of Botswana, Dr Onalenna Seitio-Kgokgwe, underscored the severity of NCDs such as cardiovascular conditions, cancer, diabetes, and the chronic respiratory diseases. She urged communities to steadfastly take heed of their well-being through leading healthy lifestyles, especially during recent times where the COVID-19 pandemic also takes advantage of one’s weak immune system, putting those with underlying health conditions at higher risk to face devasting outcomes when infected by the coronavirus.
Amongst others, the event was also graced by Court President for Broadhurst, Kgosi Charles Koitsiwe, National Coordinator for National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency, Mr Ontiretse Letlhare, and representatives of the District Commissioner for Gaborone as well as Representative of the Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central who took the opportunity to advocate through peer encouragement, sustainable change of lifestyle, and support to communities in the fight against NCDs. 
To tackle this major public health challenge, it is important that there is a congruence between the national and regional actions, be it at the policy or technical level.  Actions are more effective when they have an All of Government and All of the Society approach, where everyone has a role and plays it. 

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Facts and figures about non-communicable diseases:
•    Non-communicable diseases kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally.
•    Each year, more than 15 million people die from an NCD between the ages of 30 and 69 years; 85% of these "premature" deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
•    77% of the total NCDs deaths are in low- and middle-income countries.
•    Cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths (17.9 million people annually), followed by cancers (9.3 million), respiratory diseases (4.1 million), and diabetes (1.5 million).
•    These four groups of diseases account for over 80% of all premature NCD deaths.
•    Tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets all increase the risk of dying from an NCD.