Non-Communicable Diseases [NCDs] account for a rapidly growing burden of disease in Ethiopia, particularly for those in poor, rural areas. Care is only accessible at hospitals, requiring rural populations to travel long distances, incurring costs and lost revenue from work. Burdensome conditions such as hypertension can exist sub-clinically for years before causing life changing or ending health events. Ill health among members of these communities causes poverty, including for their dependents.

The project will see the increased provision of NCD care to rural health centres. This will be achieved by the education of health extension workers and nurses in NCD diagnosis and care at a series of 3-day courses run at 12 district hospitals by clinicians from Ethiopian Universities. Students will then be mentored in practice at 36 rural health centres by Ethiopian clinicians, as well as expert volunteer clinicians from the UK to ensure correct practice and to allow feedback to be given.