The second Africa PEN-Plus International Conference took place in Abuja, Nigeria, from July 8 to 10, 2025. Health leaders, policymakers, and partners from across Africa reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating the implementation of the PEN-Plus strategy to address the growing burden of severe non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and rheumatic heart disease.
PEN-Plus, an initiative supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to decentralize care for these severe NCDs to first-level referral health facilities, making essential services more accessible to poor and rural populations who often face barriers to accessing specialized care.
To date, 20 African countries have rolled out PEN-Plus services, marking progress in expanding coverage. The conference served as a platform to share implementation experiences, address challenges like limited healthcare workforce and medication supply, and explore ways to scale up the strategy across more nations.
Stakeholders emphasized that strengthening severe NCD care at the grassroots level is critical to reducing preventable deaths and improving quality of life. With chronic diseases increasingly straining Africa’s healthcare systems, the renewed focus on PEN-Plus reflects a collective effort to build more resilient and equitable health services.
