Health Leaders Commit to Accelerating PEN-Plus in Africa
“This conference marks a pivotal moment in our collective efforts to combat the growing burden of NCDs in Africa,” said Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Nigeria’s minister of state for health and social welfare, at the second International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa. “PEN-Plus addresses a critical gap in healthcare for the world’s poorest billion. By scaling up the model, we can ensure that lifesaving care reaches those who need it most, regardless of their location.”. (Photo: Courtesy of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa)
Health leaders, policymakers, and development partners across Africa recently renewed their commitment to an accelerated implementation of the PEN-Plus to significantly expand access to care for people living with severe noncommunicable diseases.
The second International Conference for PEN-Plus in Africa, held in July in Abuja, served as a crucial follow-up to the inaugural gathering in Dar es Salaam in 2024. This year’s meeting focused on reviewing country-level progress, sharing operational experiences, and strengthening the technical foundation for the scale-up PEN-Plus, an innovative healthcare delivery model developed in Africa.
Hosted by the Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for Africa, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, and the NCDI Poverty Network, the conference drew more than 150 experts in person, while an additional 300 participated online. The three-day event provided a platform for NCD stakeholders and policy makers to develop actionable recommendations that countries can use to accelerate, sustain, and expand PEN-Plus implementation.
“In the last couple of years, global attention has shifted to NCDs because of the morbidity and mortality from these diseases. This conference marks a pivotal moment in our collective efforts to combat the growing burden of NCDs in Africa,” said Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Nigeria’s minister of state for health and social welfare. “PEN-Plus addresses a critical gap in healthcare for the world’s poorest billion. By scaling up the model, we can ensure that lifesaving care reaches those who need it most, regardless of their location.”
Indeed, global health inequity has been a major driver of PEN-Plus implementation.
“In rich countries, very few people die in childhood from one of the sentinel diseases of PEN-Plus—type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and rheumatic and congenital heart disease,” said Dr. Gene Bukhman, co-chair of the NCDI Poverty Network. “Yet for African children, these treatable conditions can be death sentences. We must remember that PEN-Plus is above all a disease movement. To argue for a significant investment in the treatment these young people need and deserve, we must tell this story of inequity.”
In 2022, all 47 Member States of the WHO African Region adopted PEN-Plus as their official strategy for tackling the burden of severe chronic conditions. Already 20 African countries are in varying stages of implementing PEN-Plus.
“PEN-Plus has not only improved patient outcomes in implementing countries, but it has also strengthened health systems by providing training, mentorship, and referral pathways,” said Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “It is now time to scale up the model and bring lifesaving care to the people who need it most.”
Despite this progress, participants at the ICPPA conference noted that scaling up the model requires more investments by countries. Previous implementing countries assessments underscored the urgency to improve the availability of critical medications like insulin and diagnostic equipment in district hospitals. Participants also stressed the grossly inequitable access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for people living with severe conditions, particularly in rural areas where healthcare services are scarce.
A key highlight of the meeting was the finalization of the African Agenda for the upcoming United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September. The agenda outlines Africa’s priorities, commitments, and expectations for the global stage, with PEN-Plus positioned as a central pillar in the region’s response to caring for people living with severe NCDs.
“PEN-Plus is a solution that meets the moment. It is a proven, integrated solution that strengthens care for all,” said James Reid, a program officer at The Helmsley Charitable Trust. “By working together and pledging the necessary resources, countries can drive collective action to improve health and quality of life for millions of people around the world.”