At Vital Strategies, we believe that everyone should be protected by effective and equitable public health systems. We partner with governments and civil society to confront and develop sustainable solutions for one of the most complex and pervasive health challenges of our time – the rising global burden of death and disability from non-communicable diseases and injuries. We focus our support on local priorities, using data to tell us where there is unmet need and leveraging evidence to identify opportunities to reduce death, disease and injury. We build strategic alliances and create high-impact communication campaigns, mobilizing communities, shifting public perceptions, and influencing policy to better address persistent and emerging threats to health and well-being.
I started my tenure during a busy week in New York City where thousands of gathered for the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Summit of the Future and New York Climate week. One thing was very clear. We are not on track to meet the 2030 targets for the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The work that Vital Strategies does to build more resilient and adaptive public health systems is a critical enabler of the SDGs, and has now become more important than ever as the world struggles to keep up with the ever increasing threats to global health caused from shrinking funding pools, humanitarian crises, climate change, disinformation, lack of public trust and the erosion of safety-nets especially for the marginalized and persecuted.
Public Health Data Systems Are Crucial for Measuring SDG Progress yet only one in four births is recorded and 60% of deaths go unregistered with women and children disproportionately affected. When so many of the world’s population remain invisible, how can we ensure that everyone can access basic rights, services and protections and that scarce resources are targeted to areas of greatest need. Accurate data is essential for informed decision-making and targeting of limited resources. Our Vital Talks Live event on the UNGA sidelines, “Leaving No One Behind: A Digital Path Toward Counting Everyone,” highlighted the tremendous progress being made in Rwanda and in other countries through our partnership in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative.
Investing in NCD Prevention and Health Taxes Yields High Returns. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for over 75% of the premature deaths in low- and middle-income countries yet less than 3% of global health funding. As we approach the 2025 U.N. High-Level Meeting on NCDs—where heads of state will establish a vision for preventing and controlling noncommunicable diseases through the coming decades—we must focus our attention on the most high-value, high-impact strategies to address these top global killers.
What about investing in solutions that would yield a 19-fold return? A Lancet study estimates that reducing premature NCD deaths by one-third, as outlined in the SDG targets, that it would cost $18 billion annually to save 39 million lives and generate $2.7 trillion for the global economy. During UNGA, a new report from the Task Force on Fiscal Policy for Health shows that increasing taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks could save 50 million lives in 50 years and raise $3.7 trillion over five years that can be directed towards funding healthcare and other social good. Vital’s work in tobacco control, alcohol policy and food policy and strategic communications demonstrates that we can move the needle on unhealthy consumption patterns, and governments can significantly reduce NCD deaths and health care costs.
Lead Poisoning, a leading cause of cardiovascular deaths and neurological impairment, is solvable. Lead poisoning is widespread, affecting 1 in 3 children and leading to preventable intellectual disabilities. This silent threat costs the global economy $1.4 trillion, equivalent to the GDP of Spain or Mexico. At UNGA we saw dozens of organizations including USAID, UNICEF, The World Bank, the Center for Global Development, Pure Earth, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Vital Strategies unite behind a commitment for a Lead-Free Future. Vital is already at work in countries like Peru, India, Colombia, and Indonesia, strengthening public health systems to prevent lead poisoning by designing active surveillance systems, identifying key sources, educating health professionals, and shaping policies to eliminate exposure.
Public health is the foundation for thriving, equitable, and productive societies. Without it, communities struggle under the weight of preventable diseases, economic insecurity, and social inequities, undermining our collective potential and compromising the well-being of future generations.
As we approach 2025, Vital Strategies is committed to deepening our efforts, strengthening our partnerships, and mobilizing global action to reinforce the critical foundations of adaptive and resilient public health systems. When we work together and push for solutions that are grounded in data, backed by evidence and driven by equity, we will get closer to the SDG targets, creating healthier and more vital futures for populations worldwide.
Mary-Ann Etiebet, M.D.
President and CEO, Vital Strategies