The ELC Staff Welfare Team, in collaboration with the UTAS- Clinic, hosted a webinar on Thursday November 11th on the 'Mitigation of the Negative Effects of Non-Communicable Diseases in the Covid 19 Pandemic Era’. The resource presenter, Dr Odirile Thini, MBChB, General Surgery Medical Officer at Mafikeng Provincial hospital in South Africa, defined non-communicable diseases (NCD) as a medical condition or disease which by its definition, is non-infectious and cannot be passed from person to person. He said the World Health Organization (WHO) had identified the four main types of non-communicable diseases as cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.  Dr. Thini stated that NCDs are the leading causes of deaths in the world.  He went on to mention that almost a quarter of the world’s population was estimated to have underlying conditions that increases their vulnerability to COVID-19.  Dr Odirile talked about how the pandemic severely disrupted diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation services for people living with NCD.  He discussed metabolic, behavioral and environmental risk factors and suggested that greater prevention and good control of co-morbid conditions had been shown to lower disease severity and death from COVID 19.  The online event was attended by UTAS Shinas staff and external guests. Attendees asked questions about precautionary measures and how to better protect themselves during the pandemic era. Staff Welfare Team member Mr Abdelrahman Mahmoud moderated the event and thanked Dr Odirile for his valuable advice on how to mitigate the negative effects of NCD in the Covid 19 era.