Gene Bukhman

Each year, severe, chronic noncommunicable diseases kill more than 560,000 of the world’s poorest children and young adults, most of whom live in rural sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Just four conditions—type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and rheumatic and congenital heart disease—account for as many as 100,000 of those avoidable deaths. The NCDI Poverty Network—composed of 22 national commissions as well as international funding, advocacy, policy, and technical partners—uses the PEN-Plus model to provide treatment to people living with these diseases in settings of poverty. All 47 nations of the WHO African Region have now adopted this proven strategy to save those precious lives.