Correspondence: The Lancet’s chronic diseases series

Infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis are massive problems in the developing world, including Africa. Accordingly, African governments, donor and funding agencies, the UN, research organisations, and researchers have devoted most of their funds, time, resources, and knowledge into these diseases. Unfortunately, the thunder clouds of chronic diseases are rolling across the landscape.1 With Africa's urbanisation and westernisation, and the accompanying lifestyle changes, the rates of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes are, unsurprisingly, on the increase.