PEN-Plus

NCD Home visits

PEN-Plus is a transformative strategy aiming to enhance care quality for severe NCDs at primary referral facilities while decentralizing services for common NCDs at primary care facilities. By addressing a wide range of conditions and providing ongoing support, PEN-Plus clinics are making a positive impact on the lives of individuals living with chronic NCDs.  

Our Impact

Since its inception in 2018, PEN-Plus clinics in Neno have successfully enrolled and provided care to a total of 585 clients as of February 2024. This milestone highlights the program’s significant impact in addressing the local population’s healthcare needs and ensuring that people with chronic NCDs receive the necessary support and treatment.

  • ONE
    Home Visits

    As of February 2024, Neno’s upper team conducted 39 home visits, while Lisungwi conducted 42, totaling 81 visits.

  • TWO
    Clinical Care

    PEN-Plus clinics in Neno have successfully enrolled and provided care to a total of 585 clients.

  • THREE
    Expansion of PEN-Plus clinics

    Over the years, have expanded to other health centers, including Zalewa Clinic, Matope Clinic, Chifunga Clinic, and Ligowe Clinic.

Introduction: 

PEN-Plus is an integrated strategy based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease Interventions (WHO PEN). It aims to improve the quality of services for severe chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) at primary referral facilities, such as district hospitals. In other words, PEN-Plus seeks to decentralize services for complicated NCDs at primary care facilities, ensuring that cost-effective interventions are delivered to an acceptable quality of care, even in resource-poor settings. 

Implementation in Neno, Malawi: 

In November 2018, PEN-Plus was introduced in Neno, Malawi, with clinics initially held in Lisungwi every Thursday and Neno DHO every Monday. Over the years, PEN-Plus clinics have expanded to other health centers, including Zalewa clinic (twice a month), Matope clinic (once a month), Chifunga clinic (once a month), and Ligowe clinic (once a month). This expansion has allowed for increased accessibility to care for individuals with severe chronic NCDs. 

Conditions treated at PEN-Plus clinics 

  • type 1 diabetes 
  • type 2 diabetes requiring insulin 
  • chronic heart diseases 
  • chronic kidney diseases 
  • sickle cell disease stroke 
  • chronic liver disease 
  • uncontrolled asthma 
  • hypertension  
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 

Comprehensive Services Provided: 

The PEN-Plus team goes beyond conducting clinics to ensure comprehensive care for clients. They conduct home visits for elderly and physically challenged clients, and review NCD clients admitted at the wards at Lisungwi Hospital and Neno DHO. The PEN-Plus team also provides mentorship to IC3 proper and Ministry of Health (MoH) clinicians and nurses but also refers clients requiring tertiary care to central hospitals.  

This holistic approach ensures that clients receive continuous support and appropriate care throughout the NCD service delivery system at PIH Malawi. 

Current Patient Numbers: 

Since its inception in 2018, PEN-Plus clinics in Neno have successfully enrolled and provided care to a total of 585 clients as of February 2024. This milestone highlights the program’s significant impact in addressing the local population’s healthcare needs and ensuring that people with chronic NCDs receive the necessary support and treatment.