News and Features
From Words to Action
The first International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa provided a platform for health experts, policymakers, civil society organization representatives, donors, people living with noncommunicable diseases, and community advocates to expedite political and financial backing for PEN-Plus.
Benin NCDI Poverty Commission Meets for Situation Analysis and Priority Setting
In August, the Benin NCDI Poverty Commission convened at the Ministry of Health in Haie-Vive to review NCDI data for an initial situation analysis. The goal of the three-day workshop was to establish a framework to outline the prioritization of needs and identify appropriate interventions.
Benin NCDI Poverty Commission Holds First Meeting
On February 18, 2021, Benin became the first of seven countries that are establishing national NCDI Poverty Commissions in 2021 to convene its inaugural meeting. Twenty-five Commissioners participated in the two-hour virtual event, which was opened by the Commission Co-Chairs – Dr. Ali Imorou Bah Chabi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health; and Prof. Dismand Houinato, President of the Benin NCD Alliance. Cameroon, Nigeria, and Ghana plan to hold their inaugural Commission meetings in March and April, while Burkina Faso, Cambodia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are working toward launching Commissions in subsequent months.