By 2030, deaths from NCDs in Africa “are projected to exceed deaths due to communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutritional diseases combined” (WHO). Accompanying the shift towards increasing prevalence of NCDs worldwide is multimorbidity – the coexistence of two or more chronic conditions which may be infectious, noncommunicable or impact mental health.

To address this trend, NCD Alliance is hosting the side event, UHC Responses to the Urgent Challenge of Multimorbidity and NCDs, at this week’s Africa Health Agenda International Conference 2019 in Kigali, Rwanda. The session will highlight the challenge of multimorbidities to achieving successful, comprehensive and person-centred Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Experiences of people living with NCDs

The event, Wednesday 6 March 2019, 10:45 - 12:15, at the Kigali Convention Centre, will also include case studies of lived experience of people living with multiple chronic conditions, both NCDs and other global health priorities.

Objectives of the side event are to:

• Highlight the increasing and complex global challenge of NCDs and multi-morbidity as an urgent priority globally, focusing on the context of the Africa region;
• Explore the implications of multimorbidity and NCDs for economies, health systems, UHC, the health workforce and patients;
• Emphasise the benefits of integrating prevention and treatment of NCDs – alongside other chronic conditions - into primary health care and aligning with other global health priorities as a means of achieving universal health coverage.