News and Stories
Fourth Learning Workshop Focuses on Priority Setting
The event began with an introduction to priority setting by Dr. Neil Gupta, Director of Policy for the Secretariat, who conducted polls to begin conversation and encourage knowledge sharing between attendees.
Network Co-Secretariat and Southern Africa Regional Hub Launched
Leading NCDI policy makers, researchers, care providers, and advocates, including the Minister of Health, His Excellency Dr. Armindo Tiago, and Dr. Orlando António Quilambo, Rector of Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), convened in Maputo on 27 October for the launch of the Mozambique Co-Secretariat and Southern Africa Regional Hub of the NCDI Poverty Network, which will be based at UEM.
NCDI Poverty Network Steering Committee Holds Third Meeting to Review Progress and Plan Next Steps
The NCDI Poverty Network Steering Committee held its third meeting on 22 September 2021 to assess progress and make plans to advance the Network’s four strategic initiatives.
Study in Malawi Shows CHW Programs Can Be Successfully Expanded to Address NCDs and Antenatal Care
The stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial evaluated expanding an existing HIV and tuberculosis (TB) CHW program to include NCDs, malnutrition and TB screening, as well as family planning and antenatal care (ANC).
Malawi moves ahead with national scale-up of PEN-Plus
The Malawi PEN-Plus Steering Committee held its first meeting on 16 September 2021. The Steering Committee will oversee implementation of the Malawi PEN-Plus Operational Plan adopted in May.
Recently Launched Nigeria NCDI Poverty Commission Reviews Situation Analysis, Plans for Priority-Setting
The newly established Nigeria NCDI Poverty Commission is making rapid progress.
New publication presents “quantitative evidence of significant health equity gap for the poorest billion”
A recently published article by a team of Lancet NCDI Poverty Commission members and researchers has found that the burden of both communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional (CMNN) diseases and of noncommunicable diseases and injuries (NCDIs) is much greater for the world’s poorest billion people than for high-income populations.
Democratic Republic of Congo NCDI Poverty Commission Holds Kick-Off Meeting
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) NCDI Poverty Commission convened for its first meeting in Kinshasa on 12 August 2021.
Journal article synthesizes key findings from national NCDI Poverty Commissions
An original article published in Global Health: Science and Practice synthesizes key findings of national NCDI Poverty Commissions established in 16 low- and lower-middle-income countries to determine an expanded set of priority NCDI conditions and recommend cost-effective, equitable health sector interventions to address them.
PEN-Plus Partnership holds first all-partner meeting
The PEN-Plus Partnership convened its first All-Partner Internal Meeting on 23 June 2021.
Uganda NCDI Poverty Commission launches report at World Health Summit Regional Meeting
The Uganda NCDI Poverty Commission launched its final report at a session within the World Health Summit Regional Meeting for Africa in Kampala on June 28.
Crohn’s Disease among the Poorest Billion - Report finds higher burden than previously indicated
A first-ever global study of Crohn’s disease in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) found a severe lack of research and data, but concluded, based on a survey of care providers, that the burden of the disease is higher than is indicated in the sparse literature that exists.
Network Steering Committee holds second meeting on May 5 to review and plan for progress
The NCDI Poverty Network Steering Committee held its second quarterly meeting on May 5, 2021, to review progress and map out plans to advance the Network’s four strategic initiatives.
Second Network Learning Workshop focuses on assessing NCDI service coverage and availability
Thirty-seven people – including delegations from all seven countries that are joining the NCDI Poverty Network in 2021, as well as representatives from the Network Secretariat and WHO AFRO – participated in the second Learning Workshop for Phase 1 countries on May 11.
Malawi Launches Operational Plan for National Scale-Up of PEN-Plus
On May 27, Malawi took a major step toward national scale-up of integrated chronic care services at district hospitals for severe NCDs affected children and young adults (PEN-Plus) with the official launch of its PEN-Plus Operational Plan.
Network launches Learning Workshop series for new National Commissions
The NCDI Poverty Network has launched a series of Learning Workshops to share analytical tools and lessons from experience with seven new countries that are joining the Network in 2021 – Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, and Nigeria.
Cameroon NCDI Poverty Commission Convenes for Inaugural Meeting
The Cameroon NCDI Poverty Commission held its inaugural meeting on 16 March 2021 in Yaoundé. Members were led by Chair, Professor Samuel Kingue and Vice Chair, Professor Mbu Robinson and included a wide range of high-level representatives from different public partners and local stakeholders.
Benin NCDI Poverty Commission Holds First Meeting
On February 18, 2021, Benin became the first of seven countries that are establishing national NCDI Poverty Commissions in 2021 to convene its inaugural meeting. Twenty-five Commissioners participated in the two-hour virtual event, which was opened by the Commission Co-Chairs – Dr. Ali Imorou Bah Chabi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health; and Prof. Dismand Houinato, President of the Benin NCD Alliance. Cameroon, Nigeria, and Ghana plan to hold their inaugural Commission meetings in March and April, while Burkina Faso, Cambodia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are working toward launching Commissions in subsequent months.
NCDI Poverty Network Steering Committee holds its first meeting
The NCDI Poverty Network Steering Committee held its first meeting on 4 February 2021.
NCDI Poverty Network launched at global event
The NCDI Poverty Network was formally launched on December 7 at a global virtual event organized by the Lancet NCDI Poverty Commission and representatives of national NCDI Poverty Commissions in 15 low- and lower-middle-income countries with large populations of people living in extreme poverty.