Our Correspondent | Africa Guardian
For the first time, Africa will host the Global Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance Forum, with the fourth edition scheduled to take place from February 13 to 15, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda.
This groundbreaking event is expected to bring together approximately 700 delegates from 66 countries, all working towards the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases. Attendees will include Health Ministers, representatives from the World Bank, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO), alongside philanthropists, civil society groups, and members of affected communities.
Themed “Leadership on NCDs Towards 2025 & Beyond,” the forum will serve as a global platform for strategizing and uniting efforts to combat NCDs ahead of the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs. Over three days, participants will exchange knowledge, share best practices, and strengthen advocacy for the prevention and control of NCDs.
The event will be co-hosted by the NCD Alliance and the Rwanda NCD Alliance, in collaboration with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre. The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust will act as a strategic partner.
Global Health Leaders to Address Forum
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, will deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony, joined by ministerial representatives, health experts, and advocates. Discussions will span critical topics such as political and community leadership, financing, and disease prevention, with a special focus on the unique challenges facing sub-Saharan Africa.
Tackling NCDs in Sub-Saharan Africa
The forum comes at a pivotal moment as non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory conditions, are projected to surpass infectious diseases as the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. Currently, NCDs account for 43 million deaths annually—over 75% of global mortality—yet remain one of the most underfunded global health issues.
While NCDs affect populations worldwide, their impact is most profound in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where limited access to healthcare exacerbates the burden. In these regions, NCDs and injuries claim more lives under the age of 40 than HIV, tuberculosis, and maternal deaths combined.
Forum Focus Areas
The event will also highlight pressing issues such as alcohol-related diseases, tobacco control, oral health, obesity, and diabetes. Through plenary sessions and discussions, the forum aims to drive progress on policy-making, financing, and care delivery to combat NCDs and reduce their disproportionate impact on LMICs.
This landmark forum underscores Rwanda’s leadership in global health advocacy and its commitment to addressing the growing challenge of NCDs on the continent.
___