The ICPPA serves as a pivotal platform for exploring collaborative opportunities to align the PEN-Plus initiative with existing public health programs in the region. Participants will encompass high-level policymakers, global and regional experts, donors, development partners, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) focal points from Ministries of Health across the African region.

About the ICPPA 2024: The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa is hosting the 1st International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa (ICPPA), a high-level forum aimed at accelerating and scaling up the implementation of the PEN-Plus strategy in Africa.

About the PEN-Plus Strategy: The PEN-Plus strategy complements the WHO PEN intervention, striving to offer decentralized and geographically accessible quality care at community health centers for treating common NCDs. These include hypertension, type 2 diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cervical cancer screening, and palliative care. While PEN-Plus follows an integrated outpatient package delivery approach, it specifically targets severe spectrum NCDs like type 1 diabetes, rheumatic and congenital heart disease, sickle cell disease, as well as palliative care for advanced malignancies.

While WHO PEN focuses on primary health care facilities, PEN-Plus interventions expand to first-level referral facilities (i.e., district hospitals). PEN-Plus includes training and mentorship of health workers for diagnosing, treating, supporting, and referring severe NCDs. It also equips health facilities with the necessary medical apparatus, supplies, and medicines to deliver quality care for these conditions. PEN-Plus adopts a patient-centered, community-focused approach involving active patient and family participation in disease management. Additionally, it integrates palliative care and psychosocial support for patients with severe NCDs and their caregivers.

From the Source on Conferences Grants: World Health Organization