Latest News and Updates

The Voices of NCDI Poverty Fellowship is an 18-month paid opportunity (June 2021-December 2022) for three advocates who are people living with non-communicable diseases and injuries (PLWNCDIs) to help influence a call to action and growing social movement around one of the world’s biggest and most neglected health disparities: non-communicable diseases and injuries (NCDIs) that kill and disable millions of people in the poorest countries.

The event highlighted the work and ongoing efforts of the national commissions and underlined the primary goal of the NCDI Poverty Network – which aims to build and expand a community of stakeholders focused on preventing the death and suffering of people doubly afflicted by NCDs and extreme poverty.

This landmark report draws attention to the burden of NCDs in rural, lower-resource settings – severe conditions such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatic heart disease, pediatric cancers, and sickle cell disease that disproportionately impact younger and more marginalized communities.

The Program in Global NCDs and Social Change at Harvard Medical School and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO) hosted a virtual partnership meeting on Thursday July 30, 2020 to identify opportunities for engagement and partnerships to expand and strengthen integrated care for severe NCDs among the world’s poorest people

National NCDI Poverty Commissions across sub-Saharan Africa have developed innovative approaches to protecting people with severe NCDs in settings of extreme poverty during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Lancet NCDI Poverty Commission secretariat have issued two RFIs: a Request for Applications (RFA) for countries interested in establishing National NCDI Poverty Commissions and a Request for Interest (RFI) for countries that would like support in implementing integrated PEN-Plus services for severe, chronic NCDs.

This statement, on behalf of the Program in Global NCDs and Social Change at Harvard Medical School, the Division of Global Health Equity at Brigham & Women's Hospital, and the NCD Synergies project at Partners In Health, reflects the priorities of our work in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From February 29 - March 1, 2020, the Program in Global NCDs and Social Change at Harvard Medical School in collaboration with Brigham and Women's Hospital and the NCD Synergies program directed a two-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) course on Cardiovascular Disease and Global Health Equity at HMS.

From October 31st to November 3rd 2019, the Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR), South Africa Heart Association (SA Heart), and AfricaPCR held their annual Congress in Johannesburg withDr. Gene Bukhman and Dr. Sheila Klassen representing the NCD Synergies team at Partners In Health and Harvard Medical School.

During this year's UN General Assembly, PIH, HMS, and the Helmsley Charitable Trust hosted a small expert roundtable featuring participants from 16 organizations. The discussion focused on opportunities to build a multi-country initiative around "PEN-Plus" and how to mobilize advocacy and financing for this agenda.

In August 2019, Partners In Health in Malawi, known locally as Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo (APZU) had the unique opportunity to co-host Camp Tikhoza, a camp for children and young adults living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) throughout the country.

From 29 July to 1 August 2019, PIH and HMS contributed to a WHO AFRO & MOH Rwanda led Regional Consultation in Kigali to review a draft strategy for outpatient care at 1st level hospitals to address severe, chronic NCDs across the African region (PEN-Plus).

On Wed May 22nd 2019, NCD Synergies in collaboration with HMS, Helmsley and Kletjian Foundation, hosted an event during this year's WHA. Over 140 people attended the dialogue that highlighted comprehensive delivery strategies to achieving UHC, ensuring that no one is left behind.

On World Health Worker Week, we are highlighting the APZU NCD team. In recent weeks, the team tested its new strategy for active case-finding for heart failure in Neno District, a predominantly rural district that serves over 170,000 people in Malawi.

From Dec 5-8, 2018 the Program in Global NCDs and Social Change at HMS, with support from NCD Synergies hosted a 4-day NCDI Poverty National Commission Initiator's Workshop in Dubai, UAE. The workshop brought 45 participants and facilitators from 16 countries together to learn, collaborate and further the work of the National NCDI Poverty Commissions.