African health ministers adopt new strategy to curb chronic diseases

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - African health ministers endorsed a new strategy Tuesday that would boost access to diagnosis, treatment and care of severe noncommunicable diseases.

The ministers said the strategy, dubbed PEN-PLUS, would support building the capacity of district hospitals and other first-level referral facilities to diagnose and manage severe noncommunicable diseases early to reduce fatalities.

“Africa is grappling with an increasingly hefty burden of chronic diseases whose severe forms are costing precious lives that could be saved with early diagnosis and care,” Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Africa, said at a meeting of the group’s Regional Committee for Africa in Togo’s capital, Lome.

“The strategy adopted is pivotal in placing effective care within the reach of patients and marks a major step in improving the health and well-being of millions of people in the region,” she said.

Severe noncommunicable diseases are chronic conditions that lead to high levels of disability and death among children, adolescents and young adults if left undiagnosed or untreated.

The strategy requires countries to institute standardized programs to address the issue by ensuring that essential medicines, technologies and diagnostics are available and accessible at district hospitals.

The Committee also urged countries to bolster protocols for prevention, care and treatment through training and strengthening the skills and knowledge of health workers.

Governments should also ensure that those seeking care at private hospitals can access services for severe noncommunicable diseases, it said.

Just 36% of countries in the African region reported having essential medicines for noncommunicable diseases in public hospitals, according to a 2019 WHO survey.

Noncommunicable diseases account for most of the out-of-pocket spending of patients in Africa and due to their chronic nature, often lead to catastrophic health expenditures.

Health officials believe offering noncommunicable disease care as a package of services available at primary and district health facilities would reduce expenses for patients normally spent on lodging in cities and less time will be wasted commuting to health facilities.

The strategy was adopted at the 72nd session of the Committee which opened Monday in Lome attended by African health ministers and government representatives.

The annual meeting that will run from Aug. 22 - 26, is discussing measures to lower the burden of diseases, seeking ways to curb the drivers of ill health and endorse strategies to promote access to health services and people’s well-being.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during his opening remarks encouraged countries to make an urgent paradigm shift toward promoting health and well-being and preventing disease by addressing its root causes.