The Discovery Fund has partnered with Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa (CDIA). R2 million has been committed to their programme.
WHO developed a global strategy to combat NCDs. The improvement and integration of care for NCDs in developing countries is central to this strategy. They are one of 11 Centres of Excellence that have been created to address the improvement and integration of care for NCDs in developing countries. The CDIA is unique in South Africa and in the region. It strives to connect a wide range of experts in NCD public health, clinical medicine, epidemiology, lifestyle modification, health economics, health behaviour, and implementation research and health service management in an expanding collaborative network.
The CDIA research network has established itself as a key player when information, collaboration or consultation is sought regarding NCDs in South Africa, and has built strong links with the National and Western Cape Departments of Health with regard to their NCD policy development activities. It has been instrumental in establishing NCD-related research projects at five universities. Although work to date has taken place in the Western Cape, in essence this has served as an incubator to develop and test innovations in NCD care and the long-term focus is national.