Severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) remain a significant yet often overlooked driver of preventable illness and death across the African Region. These conditions disproportionately affect children, Preface © WHO Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi WHO Regional Director for Africa adolescents and young adults – particularly those living in poor, rural and underserved communities, where access to specialized care is limited. In response to this public health challenge, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa has prioritized expanding access to equitable, high quality care for severe NCDs as a core component of commitments to achieving universal health coverage in the Region.
In 2022, the Regional Committee for Africa endorsed PEN-Plus as a critical regional strategy to strengthen district and first-level referral hospitals to deliver comprehensive services for severe NCDs such as sickle cell disease, chronic respiratory diseases and rheumatic heart disease. Building on this mandate, the Regional Office, with support from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, launched a three-year project in 2023 to implement PEN-Plus in 20 priority countries. By decentralizing life-saving services and strengthening health system capacity, PEN-Plus ensures that young people living with severe NCDs receive timely diagnosis, effective treatment and continuity of care.
