Non-communicable Diseases

ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-2027 - THIS COURSE IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION

The burden of NCDs is growing globally and at an unprecedented rate in LMICs as a consequence of demographic, economic, epidemiological and socio-political transitions and technological innovations. As a result, current health systems are challenged with an ever-increasing number of people with NCDs adding up to already burdened structures due to widespread infections.

Additionally, the associated economic burden on households poses major challenges for people living with NCDs and their families and for societies at large. It is also interesting to note that the associated risks and determinants for NCDs have contextual variations. Compounded by the fact that much of NCD research stems from HICs, the applicability of this knowledge to LMIC settings remains limited. Thus, there exists a noticeable gap in the generation of contextual evidence, and between scientific knowledge and its effective implementation in policy and practice in LMICs.

The NCD course is designed for students to learn how to assess the burden and the determinants of NCDs, and to develop, implement and evaluate strategies to tackle NCDs, contextualized to specific settings. The focus is mainly on highly prevalent NCDs in LMICs or affecting vulnerable populations in HICs, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes and their common comorbidities, as well as chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, and mental health and concomitant effects of NCDs on psychosocial wellbeing