Kigali, Rwanda is hosting the 4th Global NCD Alliance Forum from February 13-15, bringing together 700 advocates, experts, and ministerial representatives from over 66 countries.
This is the first time the Forum will take place in sub-Saharan Africa, a region facing a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) amid concerns over global health financing.
The gathering comes at a critical time, as the U.S. administration’s freeze on development aid and plans to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) threaten long-established global health programs. The Forum, co-hosted by the NCD Alliance and the Rwanda NCD Alliance in collaboration with the Rwanda Ministry of Health and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, will serve as a key platform ahead of the United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM) on NCDs in September. The theme for this year’s event is Leadership on NCDs Towards 2025 & Beyond.
“We live in an era of polycrisis, with pandemics, climate change, conflicts, and humanitarian crises converging across the globe,” said Katie Dain, CEO of the NCD Alliance. “At the center of this storm are people living with NCDs.”
Dain highlighted how the recent freeze in U.S. development aid is already disrupting lifesaving health programs, including access to essential medication and treatment for NCDs. The shifting financial landscape poses a significant challenge for countries already struggling with the dual burden of infectious and noncommunicable diseases.
While many African countries have made significant progress in HIV treatment programs, this has resulted in a rising number of people at risk for NCDs and aging-related conditions. In addition, exposure to risk factors like tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diets, air pollution, physical inactivity, and stress continues to drive the NCD epidemic.
Currently, NCDs—including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and mental health conditions—account for 74% of deaths worldwide. The numbers are staggering:
- 1 billion people live with obesity
- 1.3 billion with hypertension
- 1 billion with mental health disorders
- 500 million with diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases
“In the five years since the last Forum, we have lost 215 million people to NCDs. That’s the population of Nigeria,” Dain emphasized. “We know how to reduce the burden, and we have the solutions at our fingertips. What we need now is political leadership and financing to rapidly scale implementation.”
Like many sub-Saharan African nations, Rwanda has seen a sharp rise in NCD cases over the past two decades. The Ministry of Health has responded with a strong focus on health system strengthening, integrating NCD care into primary health services.
“We recognize NCDs as a priority health issue,” said Dr. Uwinkindi Francois, Division Manager for Noncommunicable Diseases at the Rwanda Biomedical Center. “NCDs now account for more than a third of total deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, up from 24% in 2000. In just five years, they will surpass HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and maternal mortality as the leading cause of death.”
Rwanda has built a robust healthcare system, with over 90% of the population enrolled in community-based health insurance. This has significantly improved access to early diagnosis and treatment, especially for vulnerable populations in rural areas.
Dr. Joseph Mucumbitsi, Chairperson of the Rwanda NCD Alliance, emphasized the role of civil society in raising awareness and shaping policy. “Strong engagement from civil society has driven public awareness on conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Tackling risk factors such as tobacco and air pollution will be increasingly crucial in the years ahead,” he said.
The Forum will also shine a light on the stark inequalities in NCD care between high-income and lower-income countries. Prisca Githuka, Chairperson of the Cancer Survivors Association of Kenya, spoke about the challenges faced by cancer patients in resource-limited settings.
“In many low- and middle-income countries, essential medicines like morphine are scarce, and treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy are inaccessible for many,” said Githuka. “The lives of people in the global south are just as valuable as those in the north. We must ensure equitable access to care.”
Partnerships remain a cornerstone of progress in the fight against NCDs. The PEN-Plus model, an integrated care approach endorsed by all 47 WHO African region member states, is expanding access to treatment for severe NCDs like type 1 diabetes, childhood heart disease, and sickle cell disease. Rwanda’s Ministry of Health has already scaled up this model nationwide, training hundreds of health workers to diagnose and treat these conditions.
Dr. Gina Agiostratidou, Program Director at the Helmsley Charitable Trust, underscored the importance of continued investment. “Philanthropy will always play a critical role in global health. Helmsley remains committed to driving sustainable, life-changing progress for people living with NCDs worldwide,” she said.
“The NCD community is impatient for change,” Dain concluded. “This year’s Forum and the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting are our opportunities to make it happen.”