Noncommunicable Diseases
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) or Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the 1st cause of death and disability worldwide.
The term NCDs refers to a group of conditions that are not mainly caused by an acute infection, result in long-term health consequences and often create a need for long-term treatment and care. These five main NCDs are cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic lung illnesses and Mental health conditions.
Many NCDs can be prevented by reducing common risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, physical inactivity and eating unhealthy diets. Many other important conditions are also considered NCDs, including injuries and mental health disorders.
Related link:
Related documents:
- Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2030 (WHO)
- Implementation roadmap 2023-2030 for the global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013-2030
- WHA53.17: Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases
- WHA56.1: WHO Framework convention on tobacco control
- WHA61.14: Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: implementation of the global strategy
The WHO Regional Office for Africa has worked with Member States and partners to strengthen the prevention and management of NCDs, mental, neurologic, and substance use disorders to achieve the Sustainable development goal (SDG) target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from NCDs by a third by 2030.
To do this, the WHO Regional Office for Africa has taken leadership in coordination, partnership, and resource mobilization; contributed to the generation of strategic information and knowledge products; developed technical products, services, and tools; and facilitated country support through technical assistance and capacity strengthening.
Based on the Brazzaville declaration on NCD prevention and control in the WHO African Region in 2011, priority areas of NCDs in the WHO African Region include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, hemoglobinopathies (sickle cell diseases), mental disorders, oral diseases, eye and ear disorders, in addition to violence and injuries.
In recent years, the WHO Regional Office for Africa has developed various regional NCD strategies, including:
- Framework for implementing the Global Alcohol Action Plan, 2022–2030 in the WHO African Region (2023)
- PEN-PLUS – A regional strategy to address severe noncommunicable diseases at first-level referral health facilities (2022)
- Framework to strengthen the implementation of the comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030 in the WHO African Region (2022)
- Regional framework for integrating essential noncommunicable disease services in primary health care (2017)
- Regional Oral Health Strategy 2016–2025: Addressing oral diseases as part of noncommunicable diseases (2016)
Publications
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Second international conference on PEN-Plus in Africa (ICPPA 2025)
The Second International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa (ICPPA 2025) was held from 8 to 10 July 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria, following the successful inaugural event in April 2024 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Under the theme "Advancing the implementation of PEN-Plus for severe NCDs in Africa: Technical innovations, operational insights, and scalable solutions," the conference brought together over 450 participants (over 150 in-person and 300 online), including government representatives, technical experts, implementing partners, civil society, and people living with NCDs.
