Controlling diabetes and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from HIV programmes.

The prevalences of diabetes and hypertension have risen sharply in sub-Saharan Africa, but only a minority of people living with these conditions receive regular care and among those who do, glycaemia and blood pressure are generally poorly controlled. Diabetes and hypertension can be effectively controlled, but complications from these two conditions are estimated to be responsible for up to 2 million premature deaths in sub-Saharan Africa each year. Diabetes and hypertension programmes in Africa could learn lessons from HIV programmes that are also relevant for other non-communicable diseases in low-income and middle-income settings.