Colombia: Expanding NPHI Scope
While infectious diseases remain a critical public health priority for parts of the world, many countries are grappling with a "double disease burden" as rates of non-communicable conditions (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity) reach epidemic levels. These diseases account for some 70% of all-cause mortality and 66% of the burden of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in the Americas.
Colombia’s Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS) recognizes this urgent public health need but requires the mechanisms for monitoring, evaluating, and addressing the underlying factors associated with this precipitous rise. With IANPHI grant funds, INS is establishing a science base to bridge the gap between information and national policy development for public health action.
Building on a local initiative in southwestern Colombia, INS is implementing a pilot chronic disease study site in the Andean city of Pasto. This model will be used to increase national capacity to generate timely and relevant data about determinants, risk factors, and effective interventions to address chronic disease.
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