Towards universal health coverage in sub-Saharan Africa: leveraging HIV healthcare systems to provide integrated care for HIV, diabetes and hypertension

• Applicant: Caroline Bulstra, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Public Health, Healthcare Research, Social and Occupational Medicine ; Epidemiology and Medical Biometry/Statistics
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 528505853

Over the last decade, the burden of cardiovascular disease risk factors has risen sharply in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, only a minority of people living with these diseases have access to chronic disease care. At the same time, sub-Saharan Africa is the epicentre of the global HIV pandemic, where two-thirds of all people living with HIV reside. The discovery of life-saving antiretroviral therapy transformed HIV from a deadly infection to a chronic disease. Nowadays, antiretroviral therapy is accessible to about 75% of people living with HIV. I aim to study how the relatively well-established HIV healthcare systems in sub-Saharan Africa can be leveraged to also provide healthcare for diabetes and hypertension in settings with the largest unmet healthcare needs for these diseases. Over a 12-month period, I will use unique Harvard-coordinated data to quantify the co-burden of HIV, diabetes and hypertension in 14 sub-Saharan African countries and map current healthcare performance. To this end, I will bring together various experts to co-design innovative strategies for integrated chronic disease care. My findings will be disseminated through stakeholder presentations, scientific articles, policy briefs, conferences, and social media.

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Rifat Atun, Ph.D.