AMPATH Model Leading Global Effort to Stop the Rise of Non-Communicable Diseases

Non-communicable diseases or “NCDs” such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and mental health disorders have reached a point of crisis worldwide. NCDs are the leading cause of death and disability globally, especially impacting low-income countries where care is limited.

AMPATH’s work is at the center of a new global initiative called Access Accelerated, a partnership working towards the UN Sustainable Development Goal to reduce premature deaths from NCDs by one-third by 2030.

Access Accelerated is a multi-stakeholder collaboration involving the World Bank Group, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and 22 biopharmaceutical companies committed to improving NCD prevention, diagnosis and treatment. This collaboration is committed to developing and replicating sustainable programs to combat NCDs with a collective commitment of $50 million.

AMPATH was featured prominently at the official Kenya launch of Access Accelerated, showcasing how population health with universal health coverage is successfully combating NCDs. Drs. Aruasa, Kimaiyo, Kamano, Mamlin and Gardner presented in Naivasha, and Drs. Asirwa and Laktabai presented in Nairobi at Access Accelerated launch events on March 19-22, 2018.

Dr. Kamano is leading a 3 year, $2.5 million pilot project to expand AMPATH’s work to prevent and treat NCDs in Busia and Trans-Nzoia counties with funding from Access Accelerated. The project includes raising awareness of NCDs through community outreach and groups, expanding care both at local and specialized facilities, and educating communities on the benefits of NHIF health insurance which is critical to sustainability of care.  

This work will generate a model of care that will inform the roll out of Kenya’s national Ministry of Health strategy for combating NCDs and also for replication efforts by other county governments.