Tackling the emerging pandemic of non-communicable diseases in sub-SaharanAfrica: The essential NCD health intervention project

There is evidence that the prevalence of certain non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, is increasing rapidly in parts of sub-S aharan Africa. Others, such as asthma and epilepsy, are known to be common but to be poorly managed. This paper describes a project, funded by the Dep artment for International Development of the British Government, which aims to provide costed and evaluated treatment packages for use at primary heal th care level, methods and materials for evaluating the quality of non-comm unicable disease care, and a protocol for the assessment for national oppor tunities for the prevention of hypertension, heart disease and diabetes. Me thods are being developed and piloted in urban and rural Tanzania and Camer oon.