News and Stories
Overcoming Stigma to Become an Advocate for Kids with Cancer in Uganda and Beyond
“I fought cancer and won, and now I’m fighting the stigma that people with NCDs are doomed to die, because everyone deserves access to affordable NCD treatment. I hope others who have lived with cancer and other NCDs will feel empowered to share their stories to break down stigma and demand access to treatment for all.“
Two Liberian Physicians Will Become Their Country’s First Cardiologists Through Uganda Heart Institute Fellowship
Two young Liberian physicians – one an internist, the other a pediatrician – traveled to Uganda in mid-February to pursue three-year cardiology fellowships at the Uganda Heart Institute.
Research to Measure Demand for PEN-Plus in Africa Finds Ministries of Health Are Determined to Expand Access to Care for Severe NCDs
A study co-authored by researchers from the NCDI Poverty Network and the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) has found that health ministries in Africa have ambitious plans to address gaps in availability of services for severe NCDs by introducing and decentralizing care for insulin-dependent diabetes, heart failure, sickle cell disease, and chronic pain control over the next five years.
Rwanda Successfully Pilots Heart Failure Training Model that Will Facilitate PEN-Plus Scale-up Across the Network
A training model that combines in-person classroom instruction with a digital, e-learning platform has been successfully piloted in Rwanda to train PEN-Plus nurses and physicians in the knowledge, skills, and competencies to diagnose and treat heart failure.
Fourth Learning Workshop Focuses on Priority Setting
The event began with an introduction to priority setting by Dr. Neil Gupta, Director of Policy for the Secretariat, who conducted polls to begin conversation and encourage knowledge sharing between attendees.
Network Co-Secretariat and Southern Africa Regional Hub Launched
Leading NCDI policy makers, researchers, care providers, and advocates, including the Minister of Health, His Excellency Dr. Armindo Tiago, and Dr. Orlando António Quilambo, Rector of Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), convened in Maputo on 27 October for the launch of the Mozambique Co-Secretariat and Southern Africa Regional Hub of the NCDI Poverty Network, which will be based at UEM.
NCDI Poverty Network Steering Committee Holds Third Meeting to Review Progress and Plan Next Steps
The NCDI Poverty Network Steering Committee held its third meeting on 22 September 2021 to assess progress and make plans to advance the Network’s four strategic initiatives.
Study in Malawi Shows CHW Programs Can Be Successfully Expanded to Address NCDs and Antenatal Care
The stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial evaluated expanding an existing HIV and tuberculosis (TB) CHW program to include NCDs, malnutrition and TB screening, as well as family planning and antenatal care (ANC).
Malawi moves ahead with national scale-up of PEN-Plus
The Malawi PEN-Plus Steering Committee held its first meeting on 16 September 2021. The Steering Committee will oversee implementation of the Malawi PEN-Plus Operational Plan adopted in May.
Recently Launched Nigeria NCDI Poverty Commission Reviews Situation Analysis, Plans for Priority-Setting
The newly established Nigeria NCDI Poverty Commission is making rapid progress.
New publication presents “quantitative evidence of significant health equity gap for the poorest billion”
A recently published article by a team of Lancet NCDI Poverty Commission members and researchers has found that the burden of both communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional (CMNN) diseases and of noncommunicable diseases and injuries (NCDIs) is much greater for the world’s poorest billion people than for high-income populations.
Democratic Republic of Congo NCDI Poverty Commission Holds Kick-Off Meeting
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) NCDI Poverty Commission convened for its first meeting in Kinshasa on 12 August 2021.
Journal article synthesizes key findings from national NCDI Poverty Commissions
An original article published in Global Health: Science and Practice synthesizes key findings of national NCDI Poverty Commissions established in 16 low- and lower-middle-income countries to determine an expanded set of priority NCDI conditions and recommend cost-effective, equitable health sector interventions to address them.
PEN-Plus Partnership holds first all-partner meeting
The PEN-Plus Partnership convened its first All-Partner Internal Meeting on 23 June 2021.
Uganda NCDI Poverty Commission launches report at World Health Summit Regional Meeting
The Uganda NCDI Poverty Commission launched its final report at a session within the World Health Summit Regional Meeting for Africa in Kampala on June 28.
Crohn’s Disease among the Poorest Billion - Report finds higher burden than previously indicated
A first-ever global study of Crohn’s disease in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) found a severe lack of research and data, but concluded, based on a survey of care providers, that the burden of the disease is higher than is indicated in the sparse literature that exists.
Network Steering Committee holds second meeting on May 5 to review and plan for progress
The NCDI Poverty Network Steering Committee held its second quarterly meeting on May 5, 2021, to review progress and map out plans to advance the Network’s four strategic initiatives.
Second Network Learning Workshop focuses on assessing NCDI service coverage and availability
Thirty-seven people – including delegations from all seven countries that are joining the NCDI Poverty Network in 2021, as well as representatives from the Network Secretariat and WHO AFRO – participated in the second Learning Workshop for Phase 1 countries on May 11.
Malawi Launches Operational Plan for National Scale-Up of PEN-Plus
On May 27, Malawi took a major step toward national scale-up of integrated chronic care services at district hospitals for severe NCDs affected children and young adults (PEN-Plus) with the official launch of its PEN-Plus Operational Plan.
Network launches Learning Workshop series for new National Commissions
The NCDI Poverty Network has launched a series of Learning Workshops to share analytical tools and lessons from experience with seven new countries that are joining the Network in 2021 – Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, and Nigeria.