Care providers and advocates from eight PEN-Plus countries—Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—contributed a series of videos to celebrate the NCDI Poverty Network’s third anniversary.

The Southern Africa Regional Hub of the NCDI Poverty Network will host a side event during the third annual International Conference on Public Health in Africa. The side event—“PEN-Plus Partnership: An NCDI Poverty Network Initiative in partnership with WHO-Afro”—will take place on 29 November in Lusaka, Zambia, with an option for livestreaming.

As an infant, Tawonashe Mugura was always in and out of the hospital. Sometimes, he had difficulty breathing; other times, he was jaundiced. His body pains were so severe he cried constantly. The provincial hospital in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, treated his symptoms, but he still lacked a diagnosis—until an aunt provided a clue from his family history.

The High-Level Advisory Group of the PEN-Plus Partnership met in New York City on 19 September to discuss the progress and future of PEN-Plus.

“I run in support of the millions of people worldwide who live with type 1 diabetes,” said Dr. Apoorva Gomber, associate advocacy director of the Center for Integration Science in Global Health Equity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “I’ve run a marathon before and fundraised in the past. Still, this event was special because of the person who motivated my fundraising.”