ABOUT US - Introduction

The rapid rise in non-communicable diseases: cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases currently make the largest contribution to mortality in the majority of low- and middle-income countries and contribute to the burden on healthcare. Recognizing the increasing relevance of these lifestyle-related NCD in sub-Saharan Africa, the Department of Health, UK in partnership with the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) and the African Institute for Health & Development (AIHD) initiated and facilitated a process of supporting countries in the region to help advocate and maximise their efforts for NCD prevention and control. As part of this process, an NCD Prevention and Health Promotion Advocacy Meeting was held in Bagamoyo, Tanzania on August 30-31, 2008. This meeting brought together over 55 experts on various aspects of NCD from different countries to deliberate on the priorities for NCD control, prevention and management in the Region. Participants were drawn from ten African countries: East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Seychelles); West Africa – Anglophone (Ghana and Nigeria); West Africa – Francophone (Benin); Central Africa (Cameroon) and Southern Africa (Zambia and South Africa). Other participants were drawn from the global health promotion and NCD fraternity including the IUHPE, the World Health Organization (WHO/HQ, WHO/AFRO, and the country Office of Tanzania), the Department of Health, UK, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), several universities in Africa, Europe and America and several international/regional associations. During this first meeting, two ad hoc groups were formed: the Expert Group and the Partner Forum. The Expert Group was composed of researchers, academicians and practitioners in NCDs in Africa. The groups reconvened in Entebbe on July 6-7, 2009 where they decided to form a Consortium that would encompass national, regional and global associations as well as individuals working on NCDs in the region with the goal of addressing NCD prevention and control in sub-Saharan Africa through the concerted efforts of key players in the region.