Series
Facing Forward is a series of 25 short films and 10 articles from Lebanon,
Ghana, Guinea, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Kenya, Thailand and the Pacific Islands,
amongst other countries. You can explore the series under three headings:
Understanding NCDs, Increasing access to care, and Leading the way.
Understanding NCDs
A diabetes diagnosis leads to a series of journeys - not just that of the patient, but that of the insulin they need. Go behind the scenes and travel with us from a Danish factory to Ghana to learn more about the distribution of this well-known life saver.
Country-led innovations for treating childhood diabetes
The greatest rise in diabetes prevalence is projected to occur in Africa, but the continent spends the least on diabetes care as a proportion of global annual healthcare spending.
Managing diabetes in a humanitarian crisis
As a Syrian refugee with type 2 diabetes, Abdel has to consistently manage his condition - despite shifting sands that saw him flee his home.
Faidha is living with type 2 diabetes in Tanzania. Faidha’s story is not unique; diabetes and other NCDs are on the rise in Tanzania and around the world.
Shining light on an invisible danger
Many people living with diabetes, like Musah, struggle without realising they have the condition, especially when services are not always accessible.
Giving children a chance: The new face of diabetes care in Guinea
Every child deserves a healthy and happy childhood. But for people like Bilkhissa who grew up with type 1 diabetes, limited access to services, poverty, and stigma can make this complicated.
The simple solution to prevent mothers dying
As a community midwife, Sujata has from first-hand experience of the heightened health risks a pregnant woman faces - including developing non-communicable diseases like hypertension.
When small things can make a big difference in health
Your home address should not define your quality of life – but for Maria, managing multiple health issues in a rural Brazilian village miles from a health clinic, it does.
Back to basics: What are NCDs?
They are known as "the silent pandemic". They cause over 41 millions deaths a year. They disproportionately affect the world's poorest. But what actually are noncommunicable diseases?
A holistic approach to healthcare
In rural Malawi, brothers Manuel and Yamakani’s type 1 diabetes diagnoses hit their single-parent family hard.
How Tanzania is improving cancer outcomes for women
Diseases don’t discriminate and in Tanzania, breast and cervical cancer are the most common cancers affecting women today.
Increasing access to care
Accelerating Health: The Podcast
In Accelerating Health Podcast we talk to people and communities that are impacted by NCD’s, and hear from those who are exploring innovative solutions through research and technology to make sure access to NCD care is equitable and fair.
The cultural sensitivities of salt reduction
High blood pressure is on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, with a high-salt diet one of the well established risk factors. Raised blood pressure, as a result of consuming high levels of sodium in salt, increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes, which are now the leading causes of death in developing nations.
Why chronic kidney disease can affect people from all walks of life
Worldwide, more than 850 million people have some form of kidney disease. We spoke to patients with CKD, who now act as ambassadors, to hear their stories of discovery, awareness and advocacy.
The initiative transforming stroke care worldwide
The Angels Initiative has been helping to transform almost 6000 hospitals in 130 countries worldwide to date, helping millions of stroke patients in the process. Now they plan to save even more lives by taking their message into the community.
The partnerships helping patients isolated by Covid-19
More than half of people living with NCDs reported they felt isolated during the pandemic, and 50% thought their condition had worsened in lockdown.Partnerships are building bridges between isolated patients and their healthcare systems to improve their care.
Gaining ground against chronic conditions
John is no stranger to health problems – yet being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) highlighted the importance of his kidney health.
The key to unlocking migrant healthcare?
When people flee their homes, they leave many things behind - like vital medical records. The Sijilli programme provides refugees with a way to access their records, wherever their journeys take them.
From small steps to systemic shifts
Desi’s weight fluctuation has plagued her for much of her life, and she’s not alone. Could systemic changes help bear the burden, making it easier for people to make a meaningful lifestyle transformation?
Disrupting diabetes with a digital ecosystem
Discover how a programme in Sweden is implementing digital support for people like Selma, who is making lasting lifestyle transformations to reduce her high risk of type 2 diabetes.
The battle for better brain health
Malene’s hopes have been shattered over and over again by treatments that couldn’t relieve her debilitating migraines.
How the NCD community coped with Covid-19
Cris’ independent spirit was crushed when her worsening mental and physical health forced her to move back in with her parents during Covid-19.
Raising heroes at home: stroke detection
How do you broach a difficult conversation? Many of those at risk of a stroke struggle to discuss the possibility it could happen to them.
When Ali’s anxiety first emerged, it was not well understood or accepted by his community – but left untreated, things only got worse.
After losing two children soon after birth, Sally was diagnosed with AIDS, then cervical cancer.
The Ugandan hospital tackling childhood cancer
When Tasha was 9, she was diagnosed with leukaemia – a death sentence for an estimated 90% of children like her across Africa.
Leading the way
Helping those with invisible illnesses like mental health issues can be complicated. The Atmiyata project is producing local champions who can provide help and comfort within patient’s own localities.
Making health services youth-friendly
he Young Health Programme (YHP), a collaboration between AstraZeneca and global children’s organisations like Plan International engages local peer educators who act as role models and communicators on the prevention of NCDs.
The young innovators improving the health of their communities
One giant leap into leadership
Women make up just a quarter of the UK’s STEM industry, but one company is keen to shake things up.
For Romana, managing a chronic condition was already a struggle, without the added difficulties of a global pandemic.
How Barbados is transforming its health environment
Covid-19 has highlighted the importance of preventing non-communicable diseases, but it has set back some on-the-ground health advocacy work. The Healthy Caribbean Coalition aims to reduce the impact of the next pandemic.
Waiting has been a big part of Maria’s treatment for cervical cancer, such is the demand on the limited radiotherapy services in her country.