Building Capacity to Address NCDs
Guest blog from Lilly's Vice President of Global Health Programs and Access, Dr. Evan Lee.
It was a busy week in Geneva with a multitude of delegates and other groups gathered for the 66th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization. Among the many issues on the agenda, attendees reviewed proposed global targets to reduce rates of leading non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as an action plan for mental health. Targets are a great way to encourage countries to step up efforts against diseases that badly strain health care systems and hamper economic development. With NCDs claiming 35 million lives each year, we should certainly be driving our work with a sense of urgency and purpose.
In order to hit any targets in developing countries, practically speaking, we need to build capacity for effective, data-driven NCD prevention and control programs. This is a focus of our work with local partners in India, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil through the Lilly NCD Partnership.
Read more from Dr. Lee on the prevention and control of NCDs
