News and Stories
Cambodia NCDI Poverty Commission Meets for Priority-Setting Workshop
The Cambodia NCDI Poverty Commission members took a big step in March 2023 when they reviewed key findings of the country’s situation analysis and conducting a workshop to form recommendations on which noncommunicable conditions and interventions to prioritize based on burden, severity, and equity.
“Help for Life and Health for All”
“Help for life and health for all!” wrote Dr. Giacamo Marro of Doctors with Africa CUAMM on the Italian NGO’s blog. “With this message of hope and commitment, chosen by the health personnel, the PEN-Plus clinic for chronic non-communicable diseases at the government hospital in Pujehun was officially opened.”
Q&A: Center for Integration Science Aims to Break the Impasse on Global Health Equity
Type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and rheumatic and congenital heart disease. In the United States, if people with any of these diseases walk through a hospital’s doors, they can get treated. Their treatment is typically swift and, by and large, effective. Yet, in low-income nations, these conditions can be a death sentence, together claiming the lives of more than 175,000 children and adults living in extreme poverty every year. More than 80 percent of these deaths could be avoided if people living in poor, rural areas of low-income countries had access to the highly effective treatment routinely available in the United States and other wealthy countries.
Type 1 Diabetes Champion: Paladie’s Story
“Much of my outreach work is focused on diabetes education because it’s important to eradicate the many misunderstandings about the condition. When I get in front of people, the first thing I say is that I’m living with type 1 diabetes. My energy and enthusiasm silence the voices that said I would die. People who live with type 1 diabetes and other severe noncommunicable diseases are no different from anyone else.“
Southern Africa Regional Hub Celebrates First Anniversary
The Maputo co-secretariat of the NCDI Poverty Network, based at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, hosted an event marking the first anniversary of the establishment of both the Southern Africa Regional Hub and the Maputo co-secretariat of the NCDI Poverty Network on 1 February. The event encouraged discussion on how the Hub can support countries in the region in implementing the PEN-Plus model.
Network and WHO/AFRO Teams Meet to Plan for PEN-Plus Implementation
Momentum has continued since the 47 member states of the African Region of the World Health Organization adopted the regional PEN-Plus strategy to address severe noncommunicable diseases at first-level referral health facilities.
Finding My Purpose in Health Advocacy: Anu Gomanju’s Rheumatic Heart Disease Story
“Becoming a health advocate and sharing my experience with the world has answered the questions that have plagued me since I was diagnosed as a child: Why do I have rheumatic heart disease? Why do I have to depend on medicine? What is the purpose in my life? I have found my purpose in health advocacy.”
Clinical Training Helps Mozambique Prepares to Open First PEN-Plus Clinic
As Mozambique prepares to open its first PEN-Plus clinic in Nhamatanda, NCDI Poverty Network Co-Chair Dr. Ana Mocumbi, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane Chair of Medicine Dr. Sam Patel, and Network PEN-Plus Regional Technical Advisor Dr. Jorge Sixpence led training sessions for four days in December. Twenty five healthcare professionals including physicians, general medicine technicians, nutritionists, and data managers attended the training.
Network and Partners in Health Host PEN-Plus Side Event at Africa Public Health Conference
The NCDI Poverty Network and Partners in Health hosted a side event titled “Caring for People Living with Severe Chronic NCDs: Practical Lessons Learned from Early PEN-Plus Initiatives” on 14 December at the 2nd International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Kigali, Rwanda.
Master Trainer Leads Echocardiography Training for PEN-Plus Providers in Malawi
As part of Malawi’s efforts to scale up PEN-Plus nationally, clinical officers and nurses from two expansion sites in Salima and Karonga recently completed two weeks of echocardiography training at the PEN-Plus training site and clinics established in Neno by the Ministry of Health and Partners In Health Malawi.
From Patient to Advocate: The Story of Eunice Owino, Sickle Cell Warrior
“We’re called sickle cell warriors because we’re fighters. Even though we experience excruciating bouts of pain, we can overcome.”
Nigeria Commission Reviews Key Findings and Recommendations
The Nigeria NCDI Poverty Commission met for the fourth time on 9 November.
Bangladesh NCDI Poverty Commission Holds First Meeting
The Bangladesh NCDI Poverty Commission held its first meeting on 26 October at the Directorate General of Medical Education in Dhaka, increasing the number of countries participating in the NCDI Poverty Network to 22.
WHO/AFRO Regional NCD Meeting Includes PEN-Plus
Following the adoption of the PEN-Plus strategy to address severe NCDs at first-level referral health facilities by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO), PEN-Plus and the NCDI Poverty Network were agenda items at the Regional Meeting of WHO staff responsible for the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Network Promotes PEN-Plus at ISPAD Conference
A team that included NCDI Poverty Network Steering Committee Co-Chair Gene Bukhman as well as Type 1 Diabetes and Global Health Equity Research Fellows Celina Trujillo and Apoorva Gomber traveled to Abu Dhabi to represent the Network and promote PEN-Plus at the 48th annual International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) Conference, 13-16 October.
Center for Integration Science in Global Health Equity Celebrates Inaugural Symposium
The Center for Integration Science in Global Health Equity (CIS) hosted its inaugural symposium on Thursday, 10 November 2022 at the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at Harvard Medical School (HMS).
PEN-Plus on the Agenda at WAHO Regional Review Meeting
Following the adoption of the PEN-Plus strategy to address severe NCDs at first-level referral health facilities by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO), the West African Health Organization (WAHO) hosted a three-day regional review meeting on the WHO Package of Essential NCD Interventions for Primary Health Care (WHO PEN) that included a presentation on PEN-Plus and the NCDI Poverty Network. Participants met in Cape Verde between 14-16 September 2022.
DRC Commission Convenes for Situation Analysis Meeting and Prepares for Priority-Setting
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) NCDI Poverty Commission met for its first technical meeting on 27 September in Kinshasa to review national NCDI data as part an initial situation analysis.
Knowledge Exchange Series Continues with Overview of PEN-Plus
The NCDI Poverty Network Secretariat hosted the third installment of the current Knowledge Exchange series on 19 October. The discussion focused on PEN-Plus and how the integrated care delivery strategy is being implemented and scaled up across Africa and Southern Asia.
Ghana NCDI Poverty Commission Holds Launch Meeting
The Ghana NCDI Poverty Commission held its kickoff meeting on 5 October 2022 at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana.