POSTED December 14, 2021
Investment in preventing disease could save up to seven-million lives
WHO report outlines how just one dollar per person, per year, could make the difference in preventing deaths in developing countries
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new report revealing the tremendous impact new investment could have in preventing deaths in developing countries. It shows an estimated seven million could be saved for only one dollar per person, per year, through the treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCD).
“With the right strategic investments, countries that bear a significant amount of the NCD burden can change their disease trajectory and deliver significant health and economic gains for their citizens,” says Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general. “In a world filled with uncertainty, one thing we can be certain of is that without action, NCDs will continue to be a significant threat to global health. Investing in these evidence-based policies is an investment in a healthy future.”
Heart disease, diabetes and cancer are some of the most common NCDs, which contribute to an estimated 70 percent of deaths in low- and middle-income countries. WHO notes this large-scale burden on health systems could be largely prevented through cost-effective measures to reduce tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol, improve diets, increase physical activity and reduce risks of cardiovascular diseases as well as diabetes.
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