As the year draws to a close, WHO African Region noncommunicable disease (NCD) programme enters a new chapter—one defined by transformation, expansion and renewed determination. Following a strategic reorganization of WHO Regional Office for Africa, the programme now includes two key areas: Violence, Injury Prevention, and Disabilities and Risk Factors. This expansion significantly broadens our scope, integrating critical elements of NCD risk factors into the cluster’s disease prevention and control agenda.

NCDs remain one of the most pressing health challenges of our time, claiming at least 43 million lives globally in 2021 alone — and accounting for 75% of non-pandemic-related deaths. In fact, every two seconds, someone under the age of 70 dies from a noncommunicable disease. In the WHO African Region, the socioeconomic impact is profound. NCDs are increasingly becoming the leading cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. NCDs strain health systems and deepen poverty and inequity.