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July 3, 2026Open Access

The Burden of Chronic Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases in Sub-Saharan African Health Systems: a Narrative Literature Review

EIet al Abdel Nacer Amoukou IssakaMaryam Abacha American University of Niger

Key Points

This review aims to highlight the dual burden of chronic communicable and noncommunicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa and their implications for health systems.
Narrative literature review conducted from 2013 to 2023.
Analysis of disease burden statistics and health system challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 71% of the global HIV burden and 23% of the tuberculosis burden.
Noncommunicable diseases caused 37% of deaths in 2019, increasing from 26% in 2000, projected to become the leading cause of mortality by 2030.
A projected shortage of 6.1 million health workers by 2030 alongside inadequate infrastructure and limited access to essential medicines.

Abstract

This narrative review (2013–2023) reveals that SSA accounts for 71 % of the global HIV burden and 23 % of the tuberculosis burden. Concurrently, NCDs were responsible for 37 % of deaths in 2019, up from 26 % in 2000, and are projected to become the leading cause of mortality by 2030. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes is rising sharply, with a high proportion of undiagnosed cases. Health systems face critical challenges: a projected shortage of 6.1 million health workers by 2030, inadequate infrastructure, fragmented funding (vertical vs. horizontal programs), and limited access to essential medicines and technologies. The economic impact on households is catastrophic, with out-of-pocket payments representing a major share of health expenditures. The full content is available in Health Sciences and Disease

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