Ban Ki-moon stresses role of philanthropy in preventing deaths from child birth and NTDs

The role of philanthropists and philanthropic organizations is crucial in tackling some avoidable health threats which kill millions of vulnerable people every year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

The role of philanthropists and philanthropic organizations is crucial in tackling some avoidable health threats which kill millions of vulnerable people every year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

The Secretary-General highlighted the challenge faced by neglected tropical diseases that “afflict about one billion of the world’s poorest people. Yet these diseases are largely treatable.”

Controlling these diseases offers a strategy for tackling many of the conditions that promote poverty, which is especially important at the present time of economic crisis, he said.

“The economic crisis is putting at risk the unprecedented rise in public and private funding we have witnessed in recent years. The food crisis and the threat posed by climate change have profound implications for people’s health and well-being,” he warned.

Mr. Ban challenged participants “to think radically about how we can take our efforts to the next level and forge a truly powerful global partnership for global health.”

Read the press release in full