WHO/AFRO Strategy

PEN-Plus - A regional strategy to address severe noncommunicable diseases at first-level referral health facilities

At the 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee Meeting for the African Region, the 47 Member States of the AFRO region voted to adopt the PEN-Plus strategy to address severe noncommunicable diseases at first-level referral health facilities.

Implementation of this strategy will increase the capacity of first-level health facilities in rural and peri-urban areas to diagnose and treat severe, chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as sickle cell disease, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatic heart disease. It will also accelerate and strengthen implementation of WHO’s Package of Essential NCD Interventions (PEN) for prevention and management of less severe conditions at primary care level, which is currently being implemented in only 45% of the region’s Member States.

WHO/AFRO has set ambitious goals to have 50% of Member States rolling out PEN-Plus services to district hospitals by the year 2025, 65% by 2028, and 70% by 2030.

The NCDI Poverty Network is collaborating with WHO/AFRO partners and stakeholders to offer technical support as Member States plan to implement PEN-Plus.

WHO/AFRO PEN-Plus Implementation Updates

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The BMJ Highlights Opportunity to Save Lives Through PEN-Plus</a>
The BMJ Highlights Opportunity to Save Lives Through PEN-Plus

An opinion article published this month in The BMJ spotlights the PEN-Plus strategy as a new hope for improving chronic disease care in sub-Saharan Africa.

Helmsley Charitable Trust Grants $9 Million to WHO Regional Office for Africa for Severe Noncommunicable Diseases
Helmsley Charitable Trust Grants $9 Million to WHO Regional Office for Africa for Severe Noncommunicable Diseases

Efforts to expand PEN-Plus across sub-Saharan Africa received a major boost today, when the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust announced a $9 million grant to the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa to expand care for people living with severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

Network and WHO/AFRO Teams Meet to Plan for PEN-Plus Implementation</a>
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.

WHO/AFRO Regional NCD Meeting Includes PEN-Plus
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).

PEN-Plus on the Agenda at WAHO Regional Review Meeting
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.

WHO/AFRO Member States Adopt Regional Strategy to Implement PEN-Plus
WHO/AFRO Member States Adopt Regional Strategy to Implement PEN-Plus

On 23 August 2022, the 47 Member States of the WHO/AFRO region voted to adopt the PEN-Plus strategy to address severe NCDs at first-level referral health facilities in the region.