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Global Health Advocacy Incubator
Program

Noncommunicable Diseases

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Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the leading causes of death and disability globally, affecting almost 2 billion people worldwide. The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) advocates for improved resource allocation and prioritization of hypertension, diabetes and other NCDs as a public health emergency. We work with government actors, civil society organizations and the media to create awareness and strengthen health systems to provide comprehensive NCD services and care.

Our core strategies include:

  • Advocating to policymakers to strengthen their health systems to improve the quality of NCD services and make treatment and care universally accessible, streamline operations that enable patient-centric care and establish stronger monitoring and oversight mechanisms.
  • Engaging policymakers, media, patient groups and advocacy organizations to demand change, build political will, raise awareness and spotlight the need for affordable and accessible quality care and treatment.
  • Prioritizing adequate funding for national and subnational NCD programs, ensuring trained health care workers can deliver uninterrupted quality services to all and securing the availability of essential medicines and medical equipment.

This work is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Where We Work

  • Current:
  • Bangladesh,
  • India,
  • Nigeria
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Our Impact

2023

The government of India launched a plan to ensure treatment and control for 75 million hypertension and diabetes patients by 2025. As part of this effort, the government has integrated the GHAI-supported Indian Hypertension Control Initiative into the nationwide program for prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

2023

In Bangladesh, advocacy by GHAI and its partners ensured the inclusion of a key hypertension medicine (Amlodipine) in the drug list of community clinics in rural areas across the country. This landmark step by community health support trust has helped decentralize follow up visits and medication refills for the poorest patients, many of whom had to travel over 2-3 hours, and forgo a day’s wages, to receive treatment and medication.

2023

NCD oversight committees have been constituted in two major Indian states to review progress on hypertension control and steps taken to bring more people under the treatment net.

Bangladesh’s government is proactively collaborating with civil society organizations to strengthen its Hypertension Control Initiative (BHCI). Under this initiative, more than 1 million adults being screened in health centers in sub national rural areas with over 147,000 adults registered as hypertensive patients and 52% of the registered patients' blood pressure was found to be under control during their most recent visit.

On World Hypertension Day 2023, India intensified its commitment to hypertension control at the national, state, and district levels with its announcement, that it aims to bring 75 million people under standard hypertension care by 2025. As part of this effort, the government has integrated GHAI-supported Indian Hypertension Control Initiative into the nationwide program for prevention of noncommunicable diseases.

Program Resources

Profile

Noncommunicable Diseases Program Profile

Campaign

India Hypertension Campaign Materials

Relevant Team Members

Lopa Ghosh

Senior Advisor, Communications

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Vandana Shah

Vice President, Health Systems Strengthening

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Related Case Studies

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Historic Funding for Hypertension and Noncommunicable Diseases in Nigeria’s Kano State

In an important victory for public health in Nigeria, Kano State more than doubled its budget for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) between fiscal years 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. This substantial budgetary expansion demonstrates the power of sustained, data-driven advocacy and strategic partnerships in securing domestic health funding for chronic disease prevention and management. 

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Expanding Access to Hypertension Care in India: Advocacy for Health Budgets and System Strengthening

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, from January 2020 through June 2021, health and wellness centers in Punjab, India, trained over 2,600 health workers and provided more than 5.2 million consultations with patients, including 2.5 million consultations on diabetes and hypertension.

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