PAM Consortium set to tackle numerous overlapping diseases in Africa

THE Patient-Centred Care for Multimorbidity (PAM) Consortium is launching a study in Nigeria to address the overlap of multiple chronic illnesses, including HIV, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension—one of the fastest-growing yet least recognized health concerns.

Convened by the West African Institute for Applied Health Research (WAFERs) in partnership with Keele University (UK), the University of Ibadan, representatives from Africa CDC, the World Health Organization, the Health Sector Reform Coalition Nigeria, and the Guidelines International Network (GIN), the consortium brings together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and community voices.

To demonstrate what is possible, the first phase of the PAM Consortium will focus on adapting guidelines in Oyo State, creating a model that can be scaled nationally and across the region.

Speaking at the launch, Professor Adewale Adebajo, Chair of the WAFERs Board, emphasized that: “Multimorbidity is already the new normal for millions of Africans. Without coherent guidelines, patients and providers are left to improvise. PAM represents an African-led effort to close this gap with evidence-based, context-sensitive solutions.”

Dr Opeyemi Babatunde, co-lead from Keele University, noted that the consortium’s approach is grounded in person-centred care: “We aim to move away from siloed disease management and toward integrated models that reflect patient priorities and strengthen primary health care,” he said.

WAFER’s Programme Manager and Research Fellow, Ebunoluwa Ayinmode, explained that the consortium’s choice of Oyo State as the entry point is deliberate: “Nigeria must take the lead, and Oyo State has demonstrated genuine political will. By starting here, with the endorsement of the Honourable Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary, we can set the pace for Nigeria and the wider region.” he added.

Oyo will serve as the pioneering hub for the adaptation and launch of Africa’s first context-sensitive multimorbidity guideline—a model designed not only for the state but also for Nigeria and, ultimately, the entire continent.

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At the same time, the team will complete a living evidence map that synthesizes findings from its scoping review, surveys, and interviews conducted across six African countries, and will establish a repository of expertise and innovations.

This platform will not only highlight what is working in different contexts but also connect policymakers, clinicians, and researchers, breaking down the silos that have long hindered progress.

For decades, overlapping health conditions have been considered a challenge primarily for high-income countries.

However, this burden is rapidly increasing across Africa, driven by demographic transitions, urbanization, lifestyle changes, and the ongoing challenges posed by infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis.

Despite the scale of the issue, Africa lacks evidence-based, person-centered clinical guidelines to manage these overlapping health conditions. Health systems remain organized around single-disease models, forcing patients to navigate multiple clinics, medications, and protocols. This fragmentation leads to high out-of-pocket costs, poor adherence, and unequal access to care.