Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – particularly diabetes, heart disease, strokes, cancers and chronic lung conditions – are rapidly increasing in many low and middle-income countries. Globally 36 million people die from NCDs every year, 63% of all deaths worldwide, but it is often overlooked that over 80% of these deaths occur in South East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and South America. People in poorer communities are also affected by NCDs at younger ages and the accelerating trend has a significant impact on national growth and development, as well as on individuals, families and communities. Mental health problems, traffic-related injuries and visual impairment further increase the toll on economically active age groups.
The International Development Office and the Science Faculty at The Open University (OU/UK) is working with the London-based charity C3 Collaborating for Health to address the NCD epidemic by supporting the development of high-quality, freely available, open educational resources. Our shared aim is to enable a rapid increase in the numbers of effective NCD-trained health professionals in low-resource settings. Initially our focus is in India, partnering with experts in NCDs in Bangalore and New Delhi, at two of the UnitedHealth/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Collaborating Centres of Excellence in Chronic Diseases. They will help us design and pilot an educational programme on NCD prevention and early intervention to reduce the impact of NCDs in Indian communities.
The OU will use its expertise in distance learning and flexible delivery, together with its international development project experience, to adapt existing resources on NCDs from the OU, the HEAT programme and the Bangalore and New Delhi Centres of Excellence. The programme will be flexible and easily adapted for use in other cultures and countries and for health workers at different levels.
C3 Collaborating for Health will contribute its considerable expertise in global NCD prevention, its extensive networks and connections, and practical understanding of health worker roles in rural and community settings.
3 May 2013
