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The Case for Frontline Health Workers in Addressing Noncommunicable Diseases Globally

The Case for Frontline Health Workers in Addressing Noncommunicable Diseases Globally

Frontline Health Workers are a critical yet underutilized resource in addressing the global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). When adequately trained and supported, frontline health workers can raise awareness and promote healthy behaviors, conduct screenings, monitor symptoms, administer medication, provide referrals to facilities, conduct follow-up monitoring, and track health outcomes. However, many countries face challenges in incorporating NCD care into frontline health workers’ scopes of practice, including health systems ill-prepared to handle the complex nature of chronic NCDs, the growing shortage and maldistribution of health workers, and the growing burden of NCDs in low- and middle-income countries. In this policy report, we explore such challenges as well as recommendations to overcome them, advocating for leaders to invest in workforce strategies that enable countries to optimize the role of frontline health workers in reducing the burden of NCDs.