The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) have launched the ENABLE project: Enabling environments for non-communicable disease (NCD) risk reduction in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia, the second most populous African nation, faces a rapidly increasing burden of NCDs, following the trend of many other African countries. By 2040, NCDs will account for 65% of disability, yet the country is among the least prepared for this transition. To meet Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 and reduce premature mortality from NCDs, Ethiopia must focus on prevention and treatment of major risk factors: malnutrition, physical inactivity, and air pollution exposure. Prevention policies should prioritize pregnancy, as NCD risk factors emerge at younger ages and have their origins in fetal life.