Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) continue to place a growing burden on individuals, families and health systems in Africa. Expanding access to quality, integrated care is critical to reducing premature deaths and advancing universal health coverage. In the African Region, WHO and its partners have continued to support countries to strengthen health systems through innovative approaches that bring prevention, diagnosis and treatment services closer to communities.This quarter, the WHO Regional Office for Africa, with support from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, held the 3rd International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa, at which the report Scaling Up PEN-Plus: Expanding Life-Saving Care for Severe Noncommunicable Diseases in Africa was released. The report highlights significant progress, with 20 countries engaged in implementing the PEN-Plus model, services available in more than 120 district hospitals, and over 170 000 patients receiving ongoing care for severe chronic conditions.
Country experiences continue to demonstrate the impact of integrated approaches to care. In Cameroon, for example, PEN-Plus is bringing specialized services for conditions such as sickle cell disease, type 1 diabetes and severe heart disease closer to patients. In The Gambia, expanded HPV vaccination efforts through school and community outreach programmes are helping to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer. WHO is also advancing action on mental health by strengthening countries’ capacities to expand mental health care through regional learning meetings; has launched technical guidance on the oral neglected tropical disease,noma; and is promoting the integration of eye, ear and oral health services into WHO PEN and PEN-Plus platforms.Meanwhile, innovative initiatives such as Women’s Integrated Cancer Services (WICS) and the Cancer Control Reality Lab are strengthening cancer prevention, early detection and integrated cancer care. In this quarterly bulletin, we focus on WHO’s strategic work on the ground and its impact, while looking ahead to the critical next steps for expanding the integration of NCD services in health systems to strengthen the NCD response in Africa, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Dr Benido Impouma,
Director
Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control Cluster
WHO Regional Office for Africa
