African health ministers adopt PEN-PLUS strategy against non-communicable diseases

Source: The post is based on the article “African health ministers adopt PEN-PLUS strategy against non-communicable diseases” published in Down To Earth on 26th August 2022.

What is the News?

Africa has adopted the PEN-PLUS strategy to boost access to the diagnosis, treatment and care of severe non-communicable diseases (NCD). 

What is the PEN-PLUS Strategy?

Adopted by: Africa 

Purpose: To address severe Non-Communicable Diseases at First-Level Referral Health Facilities.

Aim: To bridge the access gap in the treatment and care of patients with chronic and severe NCDs.

Features: The strategy urges countries to put in place standardized programmes to tackle chronic and serious non-communicable diseases by ensuring that essential medicines, technologies and diagnostics are available and accessible in district hospitals.

What are Non-Communicable Diseases(NCDs)?

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) also known as chronic diseases tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.

The main types of NCD are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.

Globally, NCDs are the main cause of morbidity and mortality. They account for 71% of global mortality, according to the World Health Organization(WHO).

According to the ASSOCHAM report, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India is 116 per 1,000 population with hypertension, digestive diseases and diabetes leading the burden.