(August 17th, 2016, New York, USA) – Global public health experts Vital Strategies today congratulated World Health Organization and Michael Bloomberg on the latter’s appointment as WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases.
José Luis Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vital Strategies, said: “This is a smart and significant appointment by World Health Organization. Noncommunicable diseases encompass a wide range of largely preventable conditions and associated risk factors, and a diverse group of stakeholders are involved in advocating for victims and policy change. The NCD Alliance has been successful in bringing these stakeholders together, to provide a strong, cohesive voice, but a high-profile, globally renowned ambassador like Michael Bloomberg has the potential to take advocacy on NCDs to another level.
“Mr Bloomberg has a formidable track record as an advocate for health, a significant funder of global health initiatives, a globally-successful businessman, and a politician with a track record of implementing policies that improved public health and reduced health inequalities in one of the world’s major cities. His unique combination of skills and experience means that he can bring people together. He can speak with authority to any audience – business, government, media, health – and when he speaks, people listen.
“At Vital Strategies, we have had the good fortune to see at first hand his commitment to reducing preventable disease. We can attest to the fact that he believes in implementing proven strategies to deliver change. He bases his decisions on evidence, and the evidence to date suggests that the world will not meet its targets on NCDs without more rapid action.
“Mr Bloomberg’s personal intervention as WHO Global Ambassador will help to raise the profile of NCDs and we are certain he will be successful in encouraging governments to make faster progress. We offer our sincere congratulations to WHO and to Michael Bloomberg on this appointment and look forward to continuing to work with both parties, to help improve global health and reduce preventable disease.”
Vital Strategies is a principal partner in the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use and a partner in the Data for Health initiative, which is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The latter also supports Vital Strategies’ maternal health project in Tanzania.
About Vital Strategies
Vital Strategies envisions a world where every person is protected by a strong public health system. Our team combines evidence-based strategies with innovation to help develop sound public health policies, manage programs efficiently, strengthen data systems, conduct research, and design strategic communication campaigns for policy and behavior change. Vital Strategies was formed when The Union North America and World Lung Foundation joined forces. It is an affiliate of The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).
To find out more, please visit vitalstrategies.org or Twitter @VitalStrat
For further information or to arrange an interview with a Vital Strategies public health and tobacco control expert, please contact Tracey Johnston, Vital Strategies, at +44.7889.081.170 or tjohnston@vitalstrategies.org