Global Health IS America’s Health Tom Frieden, MD, MPH Commissioner New York City Health Department November 18, 2008
Global Burden of Disease Children Are Hit Hard 10 million deaths of children <5 yrs. (99% in developing countries) – 4 million are newborns –Maternal and child under-nutrition cause >1/3 of child deaths Lack of clean water/sanitation kill 2 million people a year – mostly children >500,000 women die of pregnancy-related causes 1 million deaths/year from malaria
Global Burden of Disease Chronic Diseases Kill 35 Million a Year 80% of chronic disease deaths are in developing countries Cardiovascular disease is leading cause of death –4 million people die from high cholesterol –7 million people die from high blood pressure 5 million deaths result from violence and injuries
Global Burden of Disease Tobacco Is the Leading Agent of Death Tobacco kills 5.4 million/year – one in 10 adult deaths worldwide –About 1 in 4 adults smokes – >1 billion people –Deaths could double in the next few decades Tobacco use could kill 1 billion people worldwide this century unless urgent action is taken
Global Tobacco Control Is Underfunded Compared with Other Leading Causes of Death World Health Organization
U.S. Lags Other Developed Nations in International Aid Aid as percentage of GDP, 2006 OECD, 2006 data. U.S.
More Effective Global Health Assistance Is a moral imperative Will help reduce our risk of infectious disease Will increase stability and productivity globally, protecting our security and economic interests