WHO non-communicable diseases Global Monitoring Framework: Pandemic resilience in sub-Saharan Africa and Low-income Countries | Journal Paper

Shimaa Elkomy and Tim Jackson
Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Vol 95 | Sept 2024

Summary

The study by CUSP researchers Dr Shimaa Elkomy and Prof Tim Jackson evaluates how well the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Monitoring Framework for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) helped low-income countries build resilience against COVID-19. We analysed data from 188 countries, including 28 in Sub-Saharan Africa and 42 other low-income countries. Our research examines the relationship between health policies, behaviours (from 2009 to 2017), and four key COVID-19 mortality indicators.

We found that countries closer to meeting the WHO’s NCD targets saw a decrease in COVID-19 deaths, with a one percentage point improvement in NCD targets linked to a 0.44 to 0.65 percentage point drop in COVID-19 mortality. Countries with lower NCD mortality, better health care systems, and healthier environments were more likely to manage the pandemic effectively, even in regions with high infection rates and older populations.

Our findings suggest that future global health policies should focus on the link between NCDs and infectious diseases, especially for vulnerable populations.