PEN-PLUS Africa calls for urgent reforms against non-communicable diseases

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Health Minister, Mohamed Mchengerwa, has officially opened the Third International PEN-Plus Africa 2026 Conference, stressing the need for major reforms of health systems in Africa to address the rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The conference, which is being held in Dar es Salaam, has brought together health leaders, experts and development partners from various countries. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Mchengerwa on behalf of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, said non-communicable diseases have become a major threat to development in Africa, including diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, heart disease and other chronic diseases. “According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, non-communicable diseases cause more than 43 million deaths each year worldwide, equivalent to about 74 percent of all deaths, with millions dying before reaching the age of 70,” he said. He said the situation shows the magnitude of the challenge facing the global health system and Africa in general. The minister said Africa has been bearing the heaviest burden of premature deaths due to NCDs, which shows that the problem is not only health but also economic and social. Speaking about the situation in Tanzania, Minister Mchengerwa said deaths due to non-communicable diseases have increased from less than 25 percent in the 1980s to 39 percent in 2021, with heart diseases rising to about 20 percent of the population. Minister Mchengerwa said cancer alone causes approximately 45,000 deaths per year in the country but these diseases have also been a major economic burden on families and the government, with cancer treatment and dialysis services accounting for approximately 20 percent of health insurance premiums through the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). Minister Mchengerwa emphasized the PEN-Plus strategy that aims to deliver specialist services closer to citizens through district hospitals and health centers, stating that the strategy will reduce distance, costs and preventable deaths, thereby improving the quality of life of chronic disease patients. ALSO READ: Experts push NCD prevention as health costs rise “Tanzania has increased significant investment in the health sector by improving infrastructure, medical equipment and access to essential medicines, as well as increasing the budget for non-communicable diseases from 7 percent in 2020 to more than 24 percent in 2024”, stressed Mchengerwa. Concluding the opening speech, Minister Mchengerwa called on African countries to increase investment in prevention, health education and regional cooperation, emphasizing that the future of the continent depends on the health of its citizens, while calling for the conference to be a catalyst for practical results that will help build a strong health system, which protects every citizen regardless of where they are. The post PEN-PLUS Africa calls for urgent reforms against non-communicable diseases first appeared on Daily News . The post PEN-PLUS Africa calls for urgent reforms against non-communicable diseases appeared first on Daily News .