Non-Communicable Diseases

1. Home
2. Programs
3. Non-Communicable Diseases

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and mental health conditions, are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, over 70% of all global deaths are caused by NCDs with more than three-quarters of these deaths in low and middle-income countries.

The rise of NCDs has been primarily driven by four major risk factors: tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets. NCDs are a growing challenge for under-resourced health care systems that also have to handle a high burden of infectious diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. This increasing double burden of NCDs impacts already limited resources, overwhelms health systems and has major economic and social implications on individuals, families and communities.

What we are doing

Addressing these diseases improves individual well-being, empowers communities and advances development. That’s why HPIC is committed to working with partners and local governments to improve the prevention, detection, management, and treatment of NCDs in vulnerable communities.

Our programs are tailored to meet country-specific needs and include a range of approaches at both community and health facility levels such as:

• Providing education about the effects of NCDs and their risk factors with specific efforts to increase awareness among young people and key decision-makers.
• Supporting effective treatment and quality care such as building the capacity of health systems and health care workers to respond effectively to NCDs.
• Ensuring the availability of essential medicines and basic health technologies for NCDs.
• Piloting innovative solutions such as telemedicine to improve timely access to health care services for people with NCDs living in rural, remote and vulnerable communities. 
• Working with community leaders and community health workers for social mobilization and community health education and promotion.
• Implementing programs to strengthen supply management systems to improve access to NCD medicines.