The federal government has called for enhanced political commitment, increased funding, and multi-sectoral collaboration to combat the rising burden of Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs, in Africa.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call in Abuja during the 2nd International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa (ICPPA 2025), with the theme “Advancing Implementation of PEN-Plus for Severe NCDs in Africa: Technical Innovations, Operational Insights, and Scalable Solutions”.
Data by Dr Salako indicates that NCDs is responsible for nearly 30 percent of deaths in Nigeria, with most cases affecting individuals between the ages of 30 and 69.
“The burden of NCDs in Africa is already higher than the global average. Many sufferers remain unaware until it is too late. This conference must serve as a wake-up call for urgent action,”.
In response to the crisis, the minister said the federal government had developed a National Policy and Strategic Plan of Action for NCD prevention and control, alongside the N-PEN Programme being implemented in primary healthcare centres.
“The country launched the Nigeria Essential Package of NCDs (N-PEN) in Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs), equipping them with trained staff, medical equipment, and vital medications.“
Building on this success, Nigeria is now piloting the PEN-Plus strategy at secondary healthcare facilities, backed by the World Health Organization (WHO). This initiative seeks to enhance care for children and young adults with severe NCDs. The program supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, prioritizing Nigerians’ health as a fundamental right,” He added.
The Acting Director for Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases at the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Dr. Akpaka Kalu said early detection, healthy living, and decentralized healthcare were critical in tackling non-communicable diseases across the continent.
“The life-saving solution lies in early detection. We must begin to eat appropriately, engage in regular exercise, monitor our blood pressure, and go for medical checkups. That way, if anything is wrong, it is detected early,” he emphasized.
Dr. Kalu further explained that WHO was advocating that health interventions should begin from the primary health care centres and not only at specialized hospitals.
“We don’t have to wait for access to tertiary hospitals. Quality care for non-communicable diseases must be available at the primary level. That is the only way to survive,” he said.
According to him, twenty African countries are currently implementing the initiative, which is yielding visible impact in healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
Dr. Kalu noted that through task-shifting, training, and systematic support for health workers, conditions previously deemed difficult to manage were now being handled successfully at the community level.
The Acting Country Representative of the World Health Organization, Dr. Alex Gasasira, said the organization remains resolute in its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s health care system through strategic partnerships and technical support.
He maintained that PEN-PLUS is not just a strategy but a lifeline, offering practical solutions in the fight against the growing burden of non-communicable diseases across the region.
