News and Stories
The PEN-Plus Conversation Shifts from What to How
The Third International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa reflected a key advancement in the PEN-Plus movement in the two years since the inaugural meeting: a notable shift in conversation from what the model is to how countries can best scale up their PEN-Plus programs nationally.
Media Highlights Reflect the Momentum of ICPPA 2026
Follow-up coverage of the Third International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa reflected the momentum of PEN-Plus, the focus on children’s health, and the support from national governments that were all hallmarks of the conference.
Reclaiming Hope
Margaret Nyirenda’s twin daughters were diagnosed with sickle cell disease at just five months old. Last year, tragically, one of the twins died suddenly while enroute to a hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Since then, Nyirenda and her husband have been able to enroll their surviving daughter, five-year-old Isabella, in a nearby PEN-Plus clinic, which now delivers treatment to Isabella and hope to the entire family.
‘The Way We Do Things’
Dr. Justice Mudavanhu, a Ministry of Health expert, reports that Zimbabwe’s PEN-Plus national operational plan, launched just last year, has already helped transform PEN-Plus implementation from a partner-driven activity in one corner of the country to a Ministry of Health program poised for national expansion.
‘His Heart Was Beating Differently’
At just 15 years old, António Joaquim has already faced a life-threatening condition. His story of resilience and recovery illustrates the challenges of accessing timely diagnoses for noncommunicable diseases in low-resource settings—and the impact of integrated care models such as PEN-Plus.
PEN-Plus Is Thriving in Six Districts in Nepal
A recent publication in BMJ Global Health details the growth of PEN-Plus integrated care for severe, chronic noncommunicable diseases in Nepal, where the model has been expanding from two districts to six. The country’s PEN-Plus program has not only strengthened clinical resources and referral systems, but it has also developed strong social support initiatives that address nutrition, mental health, and community awareness.
‘Gratitude in My Heart’
After five years with the NCDI Poverty Network, Dr. Apporva Gomber leaves a legacy of impassioned advocacy—and community—through her work with the Voices for PEN-Plus program. Dr. Gomber is returning to clinical work, with the goal of becoming a pediatric endocrinologist and using her own lived experience to help children navigate the challenges of living with type 1 diabetes.
Lancet Editorial Praises PEN-Plus
With less than a month until heads of state and health leaders from across sub-Saharan Africa convene at the Third International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa to discuss strategies for improving care for people living with severe, chronic noncommunicable diseases, a Lancet Primary Care editorial provides a powerful testament to the impact of PEN-Plus.
‘Let’s Grow Together’: Voices for PEN-Plus Team Expands
Two sickle cell warriors from Kenya and two type 1 diabetes warriors, one from Uganda and the other from Zambia, recently joined the Network’s Voices for PEN-Plus advocacy program. “Your story makes a difference, your story has impact,” veteran Voices advocate Moses Echodu said in welcoming the newcomers. “And, importantly, your story is what will keep someone else hopeful.”
Journal Series to Explore Integration Science as Key to Meeting Global Health Challenges
As global health funding continues to evolve, more than 50 experts from dozens of countries are preparing for publication a new four-paper series that will offer integration science as a tool for unlocking significant gains in health equity worldwide. These collaborators represent a range of organizations and include academics, ministry officials, and people with lived experience from across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Cameroon Opens Its First PEN-Plus Clinics
The clinics at Mfou and Djoum district hospitals arose from years of collaboration driven by Cameroon’s Ministry of Health and the WHO Regional Office for Africa, with boosts from an informal coalition of health officials in Francophone countries.
Ethiopia Launches PEN-Plus National Operating Plan
The NCDI Poverty Network joined with the Government of Ethiopia, the Mathiwos Wondu Foundation, the World Health Organization, and other partners in a recent ceremony to launch Ethiopia’s PEN-Plus National Operational Plan, marking another major milestone for the growth of PEN-Plus in sub-Saharan Africa.
Kenya’s Milestones in Noncommunicable Disease Care Follow Years of Collaboration
The Kenya Ministry of Health, NCD Alliance Kenya, NCDI Poverty Network, and partners convened for Kenya’s inaugural National NCD Conference, which featured the launch of a PEN-Plus National Operational Plan.
Bangladesh Study Tour Reveals a Strong PEN-Plus Foundation
The October tour showed the strong work of a relatively young PEN-Plus program that is poised for growth, reflecting the adaptability of the integrated model of care for noncommunicable diseases.
Mozambique Hosts a Regional PEN-Plus Study Tour
The NCDI Poverty Network’s co-secretariat in Maputo, Mozambique, and the Southern Africa Regional Hub recently hosted a study tour to enable representatives from the Ministries of Health of Angola, Eswatini, and Lesotho to learn about PEN-Plus implementation.
Nigeria Team Launches PEN-Plus Committee and Implementation Plan
The same week that global policy talks on noncommunicable diseases were taking place at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, health leaders in Abuja, Nigeria, were marking progress in being able to provide care for people living with severe, chronic NCDs through PEN-Plus.
‘I Am a Warrior’: PEN-Plus Camp Shows the Power of Peer Support for Young People Living with Severe NCDs
“I am a warrior. I am brave. I am triumphant.” With that mantra, participants in Camp Tuli Bonse—an integrated camp for young people living in Zambia with type 1 diabetes or sickle cell disease—learned how a sense of unity can confer benefits beyond physical health.
African Health Leaders Call for a Greater Investment in Integrated Models of Care
Dr. Ana Mocumbi, co-chair of the NCDI Poverty Network, represented PEN-Plus at a high-level side event during the recent 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa. There delegates emphasized the urgent need for equitable access to prevention, screening, treatment, and rehabilitation across the continuum of care for people living with severe noncommunicable diseases.
Her Heart Now Mended, Shumirai Magidi Reclaims Her Independence
Shumirai Magidi, a 48-year-old mother of six who lives in a quiet rural stretch of Chabata Village in the Bikita District of southeastern Zimbabwe, is known for her resilience. Yet that strength was put to the test several years ago, when her health began to fail.
Making the Case for Inclusion of Children Ahead of the United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs
A commentary authored by Network and UNICEF leaders and published in August by The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health makes the case for better care for children and adolescents living with severe, chronic NCDs in settings of extreme poverty, a case that’s also reflected in the Network’s position statement ahead of the United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September.