By Lauryn M’banga

In an effort to enhance the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country, the Ministry of Health has launched the Package of Essential Non-Communicable Disease Interventions for Severe Diseases (PEN-Plus).

Speaking at the launch, the Chief of Health Services in the Ministry, Dr. Martias Joshua, emphasized the ministry’s recognition of the significant impact that NCDs have on the population, which prompted the introduction of this initiative.

Dr. Joshua highlighted the growing burden of NCDs—including hypertension, sickle cell disease, diabetes, and rheumatic heart disease—on individuals and communities.

He stressed the need for targeted interventions within healthcare facilities to effectively manage these conditions.

Dr. Joshua further noted that Malawi is witnessing a rise in NCD cases due to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, poor dietary habits, lack of physical activity, alcohol consumption, and air pollution.

To address this growing health challenge, Dr. Joshua underscored the importance of the PEN-Plus initiative, which aims to expand healthcare access, strengthen primary healthcare services, and integrate NCD prevention and management into the country’s health strategy.

World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Dr. Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, reaffirmed the importance of the initiative, stating that its launch reflects WHO’s commitment to improving access to NCD services and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4 by 2030.

The PEN-Plus initiative is a regional strategy adopted in 2022 by 47 African WHO Member States. It aims to tackle the burden of severe NCDs among rural and hard-to-reach populations by decentralizing and integrating outpatient services into first-level referral health facilities.