Features

The world’s leading preventable killer—tobacco—comes center stage every year on World No Tobacco Day, May 31, bringing attention to the 7 million tobacco-related annual deaths caused by tobacco use and aiming to boost tobacco control policies and efforts.

A majority of the world’s population now lives in cities, and the trend toward urbanization is growing. Vital Strategies sees cities as engines for public health, and works across several of our programs—notably the Partnership for Healthy Cities —to engage urban governments in leading public health improvements.

Each month, Vital Strategies reviews major journals for newly published research related to our programs and priorities. Our research roundup aims to offer insight into advances and trends in global health practice and understanding.

More than 92% of the world’s population is exposed to poor air quality. Air pollution is the fifth leading risk factor for death and accounts for more than 5 million deaths each year globally.

To coincide with World No Tobacco Day (May 31) and the Women Deliver conference (June 3-6), we’re highlighting 7 women who are leading efforts in tobacco control and working to protect the health of people around the world.

Q&A with Daliah Heller, Director of Drug Use Initiatives.