The group of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) includes diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory illnesses and psychological disorders. Since 2015 they are deemed to be the most frequent cause of death worldwide. Each year up to 40 million people die of NCDs in countries whose resources are limited.
Else Kröner Center
Two projects in Zambia and Tanzania, each with a term of five years, have been funded with a total of 2.4 million euros since 2022. At the center of both grants is the respective development of a new Else Kröner Center. The goal set for these two centers is to act as one-stop clinics by offering inclusive services ranging from making diagnoses all the way to caring for those affected by NCDs.
Name: “Enhanced and sustainable containment of the non-communicable disease epidemic in Zambia through evidence-based service integration (CoNoCo)”
Project management: Dr. Andreas Deckert, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg (collaboration with Dr. Florian Neuhann)
Cooperation: Chreso Ministries and Chreso University (Dr. Jonas Chongo, Prof. Christopher Simoonga), Dept. of Nephrology, University Hospital Heidelberg (Prof. Martin Zeier), University Hospital Heidelberg Central Laboratory (Dr. Maik Brune), and Prof. Hans-Michael Steffen (University of Cologne)
This integrative approach is set on expanding the existing infrastructure in place for the infectious disease HIV to include non-communicable diseases and encompasses lifestyle counseling along with the diagnosis and treatment of endangered persons. Scientific studies are embedded to assess the healthcare situation in communities, test interventions and notify decision-makers.
Name: “Strengthening health systems to establish a chain of care and referral for management of non-communicable diseases in hard-to-reach populations of rural Tanzania CARECHAIN-NCD”
Project management: PD Dr. Thomas Zoller, Speciality Network: Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité – University Hospital Berlin
Cooperation: Ifakara Health Institute (Dr. Andrew Katende) and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (PD Dr. Martin Rohacek)
The overarching objective is the improvement of NCD care in rural and hard-to-reach areas within the Kilombero District in Central Tanzania and the Bagamoyo District along the coast. The intention is to raise awareness regarding NCDs, improve prevention and train professional healthcare staff. A supply chain extending from villages to the referral center is supposed to be established by involving local partners.
Expansion of the NCD program
Planned for the future is to continue to build up and enhance the NCD program within EKFS through targeted special calls for proposals. This development scheme is gaining particular urgency because the subject of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in resource-limited countries represents an issue that is equally acute yet left unattended to until now.
Funds amounting to 1.3 million euros were announced for allocation in 2023. The decision on funding allocation approval is estimated to take place during the first half of 2024.
Strategic goal
The goal is to achieve a sustainable empowerment of healthcare personnel on the basic healthcare level and a sustainable strengthening of the local health systems. The intention is to improve the quality of and accessibility to clarification, diagnosis and treatment of NCDs – given the fact that the costs towards combating and treating NCDs are lowest at an early stage. For patients requiring an additional continuity of care, a swift and smoothly functioning referral ought to be made possible within the health system.
Other forms of EKFS financng with a focus on NCDs
The foundation also supports projects involved in the field of NCDs via the regular humanitarian funding line at EKFS. The following projects provide an exemplary impression of which types of activities pertaining to this focus are being supported in various country contexts listed with the OECD DAC or have been funded in the past. You can find more information about the regular funding line here.
You can also find our projects being funded along with their respective focal points under Currently Funded Projects.