The Call to Action of the Third International Conference for PEN-Plus in Africa (ICPPA 2026), held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 23 to 25 June 2026 under the theme “Advancing progress towards SDG targets for NCDs in Africa by 2030: Reflections on PEN-Plus implementation — Progress, Challenges and the future”, sets out the collective commitments of participants and their calls to governments, WHO, development partners, donors, UN agencies and the private sector.
Participants committed to elevate severe and chronic NCDs as an urgent health and development priority; to advance integrated early detection, diagnosis, treatment and long-term care at all levels, with emphasis on primary and first-referral care; and to promote people-centred care and multisectoral collaboration to reduce premature mortality from severe and chronic NCDs, leaving no one behind. The Call to Action further urges governments to fully implement PEN and PEN-Plus interventions, WHO to intensify its leadership and normative role, and development partners, donors, UN agencies and the private sector to significantly increase investment in children and poor populations affected by severe and chronic NCDs.
