Michael R. Bloomberg reappointed as WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries
New Gallup survey signifies robust international help for insurance policies outlined in WHO report to fight rising public well being burden of noncommunicable illnesses
GENEVA and NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), launched a brand new report calling on international leaders to take pressing motion on noncommunicable illnesses (NCDs), liable for 17 million untimely deaths yearly.
To speed up motion, Dr. Tedros renewed the two-year appointment of Michael R. Bloomberg as WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries. This is Bloomberg’s third reappointment as Ambassador, having first been appointed to the position in 2016.
The announcement got here on the first annual gathering of a Heads of State and Government Group for the Prevention of NCDs, led by the President of Ghana and the Prime Minister of Norway,1 held throughout the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This follows the launch of a Global NCD Compact earlier this yr by Ghana and Norway.
To mark the event, WHO launched a brand new report, “Invisible Numbers: The true scale of noncommunicable diseases,” and an information portal that for the primary time, brings collectively all WHO information associated to NCDs for 194 international locations. The report and portal spotlight the extent of the worldwide NCD burden, danger elements, and the progress every nation is making of their efforts to fight these illnesses and circumstances. Every two seconds, somebody below the age of 70 someplace on the earth dies of an NCD. Noncommunicable illnesses like coronary heart illness, most cancers, diabetes, and lung illness now outnumber infectious illness as the highest killers globally.
“This report is a reminder of the true scale of the threat posed by NCDs and their risk factors,” stated Dr. Tedros. “There are cost-effective and globally applicable NCD interventions that every country, no matter its income level, can and should be using and benefitting from – saving lives and saving money. I thank President Afuko-Addo, Prime Minister Støre and Michael Bloomberg for their leadership and vision in addressing this major global health issue.”
Bloomberg’s reappointment comes at a important juncture for public well being. During the COVID-19 pandemic, folks residing with NCDs confronted worse outcomes than these with out. Today, Gallup launched a brand new survey commissioned by WHO and Bloomberg Philanthropies that discovered most respondents in 5 surveyed international locations – together with Colombia, India, Jordan, Tanzania and the United States – rank an NCD or NCD danger issue as the most important well being drawback of their nation.
The public’s consciousness of the hyperlinks between NCDs and their danger elements similar to tobacco and alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, and lack of bodily exercise, is low. Yet, the bulk of folks surveyed throughout all international locations help a large quantity of confirmed interventions and insurance policies that may cut back deaths from NCDs, similar to incorporating extra inexperienced areas in city well being design and rising taxes on tobacco.
“As we continue to respond to this pandemic and prepare for the next, we have seen the critical importance of addressing a major risk factor in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths – noncommunicable diseases,” stated Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries. “Noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, and cancer are the world’s biggest silent killers – but they can often be prevented with investment in proven, cost-effective interventions. I look forward to continuing to make life-saving investments in NCD and injury prevention alongside Dr. Tedros and the WHO.”
As WHO Global Ambassador, Bloomberg will proceed to help international, nationwide, and native efforts to defend folks from NCDs and accidents. This work additionally advances the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goal goal (SDG 3.4) to cut back the worldwide quantity of NCD deaths by one-third by means of high-impact, population-level insurance policies and packages carried out in cities internationally.
NCDs trigger practically three-quarters of deaths worldwide. Every yr, 17 million folks below the age of 70 die of NCDs, 86 % of whom dwell in low- and middle-income international locations. The COVID-19 pandemic additional exacerbated the NCD burden by delaying and disrupting care, and within the early months of the pandemic, 75 % of international locations reported disruption to important NCD providers as a result of of lockdown restrictions and channelling of sources. While each Member State of the United Nations has dedicated to lowering untimely demise from NCDs by one-third by 2030 – an effort that might save thousands and thousands of lives – few international locations are presently on monitor to obtain it. Urgent international efforts are wanted to get again on monitor to attain Sustainable Development Goal targets and cut back untimely deaths from NCDs.
About Michael Bloomberg’s work in public well being
An worldwide chief on public well being points, Bloomberg’s investments in public well being embody main, life-saving initiatives to cut back tobacco and youth e-cigarette use with over $1 billion in investments, help wholesome meals coverage, cut back drowning, and enhance street security and maternal well being, amongst others. In 2016, he launched the American Health Initiative at Johns Hopkins University to deal with declining life expectancy in the United States, and in 2017, began the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a worldwide community of 70 cities dedicated to lowering noncommunicable illnesses and accidents. Recently, Bloomberg Philanthropies invested an extra $115 million in international public well being nonprofit Resolve to Save Lives – bringing its complete funding to $215 million – to proceed stopping deaths from coronary heart illness.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 941 cities and 173 international locations all over the world to guarantee higher, longer lives for the best quantity of folks. The group focuses on 5 key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health.
Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, together with his basis, company, and private philanthropy in addition to Bloomberg Associates, a professional bono consultancy that works in cities round the world. In 2021, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $1.66 billion. For extra data, please go to bloomberg.org or comply with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.
About the World Health Organization
The World Health Organization offers international management in public well being throughout the United Nations system. Founded in 1948, WHO works with 194 Member States, throughout six areas and from greater than 150 places of work, to promote well being, hold the world protected and serve the susceptible. By connecting international locations, folks and companions, we attempt to give everybody, in all places an equal likelihood at a protected and wholesome life. For extra data, please go to www.who.int or comply with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTook, Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube
1 The Heads of State and Government Group launched a Global Compact on NCDs in April 2022 in Accra, Ghana on the International Strategic Dialogue on NCDs.
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