2nd Regional Meeting of the World NCD Federation African Region

2nd Regional Meeting of the World NCD Federation African Region

Addressing NCD Prevention, Surveillance and Management to achieve SDG 3 in the context of COVID-19 and other health emergencies.

12 - 14 January 2022, Elephant Hills Hotel, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe   

As the NCD burden continues to grow globally as well as in LMICs, there is an imperative to pursue opportunities and solutions that lead to risk mitigation, health promotion and health system strengthening through integrated services for NCDs. The primary aim of integration will be to reduce cost, improve efficiency and achieve better health outcomes in relation to NCDs. This is more so as health services converge at the level of the service provider.

In most countries in the African region, NCD co-exist with disproportionately higher burden of HIV and TB which themselves have become chronic. Furthermore, both HIV and TB are closely associated with NCDs. It is therefore prudent that interventions including human and financial resources for prevention, surveillance and management are strengthened. The disease burden in Africa from communicable and noncommunicable diseases, health emergencies, and maternal and child health among others remain disproportionately high due in part to weak health systems and other competing needs.  The NCD burden threatens to retard the gains made through improved nutrition, education, and increased incomes

The momentum around Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) provides an opportunity to shift focus away from vertical health programmes towards an integrated approach, particularly at primary healthcare level. It also provides an opportunity to build on past and current investments in LMICs for other health issues. Existing service delivery platforms, i.e. employing lessons of HIV and AIDS prevention and management to inform management of diabetes and hypertension, can be used to introduce risk assessment, early diagnosis and management of NCDs. Similarly, financing for other health issues can be leveraged for NCDs.

More so, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the significant gaps in provision of person centered and integrated care for people living with NCDs. Data from all the countries in the region has shown the imperative of integration and prioritization of NCD prevention and care during planning, response and post response emergency planning

The implementation road map 2023– 2030 for the global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2030 was adopted at the 75th WHA. This provides tools and guidance for member states to access their current NCD situation, develop and prioritize cost effective and context specific interventions with a view to putting them back on track towards achieving the SDG target 3.4 on premature mortality from NCDs by 2030. 

The WHO GPW13 sets out WHO’s strategic direction – strategic priorities, goals/impacts and outcomes, and strategic and Organizational shifts for 2019-2023. Under the outcome 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, of the GPW13, WHO will efficiently and effectively increase coverage of essential health services by providing guidance and technical assistance to enable countries to strengthen their health systems and establish a strong foundation for integrated primary health care, to scale up context appropriate interventions that include prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation. This provides an opportunity for countries in the region to scale up effective NCD interventions at the PHC level.

In addition, outcome 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 of the GPW13 aims to ensure additional one billion people enjoy better health and well-being by addressing risk factors through multi sectoral approaches for prevention, surveillance and management of NCDs.

Risk factor mitigation and health promotion are essential requirements for NCD prevention and control. A holistic approach that includes entire society, culture and government are needed to ensure sustainable actions undertaken at behavioral level in populations. Thus, as we work across sectors of non-health units, we should also work within sectors of health units. The 2011 UN Political Declaration on NCDs provides the mandate for multisectoral action, whole-of-government and whole-of-society responses.

The 2nd Regional Meeting of the World NCD Federation African Region to be held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (12 – 14 January -2023) is under the theme “NCD prevention, surveillance and management to achieve SDG 3 in the context of COVID-19 and other health emergencies.”

Meeting Objectives 
  • To share experiences regarding the latest advances and trends in NCD prevention, management and surveillance within the context of COVID-19 pandemic and other health emergencies including HIV / AIDS;
  • To discuss opportunities and challenges for scale up of the WHO Best Buys for NCDs within the African context and come up with recommendations on best practices within the framework of health system strengthening and specifically universal health coverage (UHC).
  • Discuss how NCD prevention, surveillance and management interventions can be accelerated in the region to meet the SDG goal of one third reduction in premature mortality.
  • To address operational challenges notably, gender issues, financing policy options, effects of climate change, good governance to support, protect and promote health including leadership, and the role of communities and culture in promoting positive health behaviors.
Expected Outcomes
  • Opportunities and strategies to strengthen integrated and person-centered care for NCD prevention and care identified and promoted
  • Approaches for scaleup of WHO Best Buy interventions within the framework of health system strengthening, UHC and SDG, identified and adopted.
  • Operational plan to address challenges related to NCDs and gender issues, financing policy options, role of culture, good governance, climate change, health emergencies including COVID-19.
  • NCD prevention, surveillance and management strategies and policies recommended and adopted.
Financial implications

​​​​​​​This meeting is being planned as a joint collaboration between the World NCD Federation, Chandigarh, India and the World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, NCD Cluster, Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC), Zimbabwe and Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe.  The cost sharing arrangement will see World NCD Federation contribute toward local cost and the World Health Organization will be requested to pay for participants selected from participating countries.  Midlands State University and MoHCC, Zimbabwe will contribute “in-kind” toward local organizing and logistics including publicity among other things through human manpower.

This meeting is by invitation only. Country participants are those individuals involved in NCD prevention and management in select countries. d policies recommended and adopted.

Programme


Session name

Day 1



NCD Context

In Africa

  • Epidemiological transition, burden and social determinants of NCDs in Africa -  Presenter: WHO AFRO (NCD and HPD Technical Units)
  • Evidence based policies, strategies and guidelines for prevention, surveillance and management of NCDs in primary and secondary health care settings – Presenters: AFRO and WNCD
  • Impact of COVID-19 on NCD prevention and care
  • Country experiences – MoHCC, Zimbabwe, Togo
  • Communities, Culture and Governance systems in NCD prevention and control in Africa – Presenter: Prof Collins Airhihenbuwa and
  • Achieving UHC for NCDs; political, Policy, and programmatic implications - Participant from Nigeria and Botswana- Panel discussion
  • Strengthening NCD Infrastructure, Partnership and Human Resources in Africa in the context of SDGs - Senegal and South Africa


  • Official Inauguration and Welcome   - MoHCC

Day 2


Achieving SDG target 3.4. Framing Prevention, Surveillance and Management of NCDs in Africa

Building NCD Programmes for prevention, surveillance and management

  • Partnership, Alliances and Networks – NCDs in the context of Global Health
  • Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation of NCD Programmes
  • Integrated and person-centered prevention and care for NCDs and mental health. Tools ,approaches and opportunities for UHC and SDG


  • Capacity strengthening for NCD human resources – gaps and opportunities


  • Access to essential medicines and basic technologies for NCD prevention and care. Unpacking the key issues and mapping way forward for the African region


  • Innovative financing of NCD prevention and control activities

Day 3

  • Consensus building meeting: WHO, MOHCC and WNCD Federation ( UNICEF, CHAI) and participants
  • Agreed next steps


  • Closing Ceremony

Contact

​​​​​​​CHIMBWANDA Tatenda
WHO Zimbabwe, Communications Officer
Email: chimbwandat@who.int
Tel: +263 7 838 63 26

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