News and Stories
PEN-Plus Empowers Schoolteacher Living with Type 1 Diabetes in Sierra Leone
Thanks to her continued care at the PEN-Plus clinic in Koidu, Umu Barrie was able to complete her studies and begin her career as a teacher. “Receiving this treatment has encouraged me to be a role model,” she said. “I am now living my life to the full, and I want to help other people with diabetes change their lives.”
Peer Support a Growing Focus of Noncommunicable Disease Care
With peer support having proved to be a key component of PEN-Plus care, the NCDI Poverty Network is developing an integrated training program for peer educators. “We’ve seen beautiful examples of young people who are unafraid to speak boldly about their condition, to be advocates, to be champions,” said Dr. Colin Pfaff, the Network’s associate director of programs. “They are living successful lives and are examples to others, which has such a powerful impact.”
At ISPAD, PEN-Plus Puts Type 1 Diabetes ‘In the First Sentence’ of Care Delivery
The PEN-Plus model of care is not only improving treatment and accessibility for people living with type 1 diabetes, but it’s also placing an emphasis on the disease that had not previously existed in some parts of the world, Dr. Gene Bukhman said during the recent International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes conference, held in Montreal.
‘Your Future Ends Here’ - Diabetes Warrior Bounces Back from Stigma
Naomi Mwila was attending college for civil engineering, planning her career, and dreaming of a bright future until a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes changed her entire outlook, as a college professor told her that her condition meant she no longer had anything to live for. Then an integrated PEN-Plus camp restored her ability to dream.
Voices Advocate Promotes PEN-Plus at World Health Summit
When it comes to advocating for health equity and greater access to care for people living with severe noncommunicable diseases, Emmanuella Selasi Hormenoo doesn’t miss an opportunity. Undaunted by sharing stages with global health leaders, the Voices for PEN-Plus advocate represented people with lived experience on two panels at the World Health Summit in Berlin in mid-October.
PHOTO GALLERY: Camp Tuli Bonse, Lusaka, Zambia
Photos from the weeklong camp show joy, education, and empowerment, as young people living with type 1 diabetes or sickle cell disease shared experiences, learned about managing their health and, above all, discovered they were not alone.
‘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.
Health Leaders Commit to Accelerating PEN-Plus in Africa
At the second International Conference for PEN-Plus in Africa, recently held in Abuja, health leaders, policymakers, and development partners across Africa renewed their commitment to an accelerated implementation of the PEN-Plus to significantly expand access to care for people living with severe noncommunicable diseases.
ICPPA Positions Nigeria as Leading PEN-Plus Advocate, Media Coverage Shows
The second International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa positioned Nigeria as a leading advocate for PEN-Plus across the African continent, media coverage of the July conference showed.
Camp to Bring Together Youth Living with Severe Conditions for Fun, Solidarity, and Support
Camp Tuli Bonse, an integrated summer camp, will bring together about 60 children, adolescents, and young adults living with either type 1 diabetes or sickle cell disease for a week of health education, support, solidarity, and fun in Chongwe, Zambia, from August 18 to 22.
Clinicians and Peer Educators Share Tools for Diabetes Self-Management
A peer education event in May brought clinicians and community advocates from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda together for training on type 1 diabetes management and symptoms, leadership, and…building towers out of spaghetti.
At a United Nations Hearing, Network Provides Testimony on Global Health Gaps
On behalf of the NCDI Poverty Network, Rachel Gasana, senior director of advancement, testified at the multistakeholder hearing on noncommunicable diseases, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The Network was one of 70 organizations selected to deliver testimonies as a prelude to the United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September.
WHO AFRO Publishes Landmark PEN-Plus Report
The WHO Regional Office for Africa recently published a landmark report that details the impact and momentum of the PEN-Plus model, providing a valuable tool for advocacy and information about integrated care for people living with severe, chronic noncommunicable diseases.
The Network Expands Its Social Media Presence
The NCDI Poverty Network recently expanded its social media presence to use the rising popularity of Facebook in Africa to good advantage—and to provide additional platforms for its advocacy work in ensuring that children, adolescents, and adults living with severe noncommunicable diseases in low-income countries have access to the lifesaving services they need.
The Missing Pieces: The Network Publishes a Statement on the Global NCD Agenda
The NCDI Poverty Network recently published a position statement that identifies the crucial pieces—and populations—missing from the global NCD agenda. With this statement, the Network seeks to inform policy discussions in the lead-up to the Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, slated for September.
Webinar to Explore the Impact of PEN-Plus on the Care of Children with NCDs
Dr. Neil Gupta, a pediatrician and the senior director of policy at the NCDI Poverty Network, will join a panel of healthcare providers in an upcoming webinar that explores how PEN-Plus affects the care of children living with severe NCDs. The International Pediatric Association is hosting the webinar on March 25.
‘A Solution That Works’: PEN-Plus Praised at the Global NCDA Forum
The NCDI Poverty Network’s recent week of advocacy in Rwanda included visits to two hospitals, a conference with more than 700 attendees, a panel with four expert speakers, and one recurring theme: the recognition that PEN-Plus is an effective model for mobilizing action and financing to increase access to care for people living with severe, chronic noncommunicable diseases.