The World Heart Federation (WHF) welcomes the appointment of Mr Michael Bloomberg, philanthropist, as World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs).
NCDs are responsible for almost 43 million deaths each year. Of these 43 million 17.5 million are caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD), which alone is the single biggest killer in the world. The World Heart Federation and its members drive the fight against CVD, with a specific focus on low- and middle-income countries. We applaud WHO continued commitment to CVD.
“We are delighted to welcome Mr Bloomberg as an Ambassador for the NCD cause. His experience and profile will be a huge motivational force within both the public and private sectors for the prevention and treatment of the NCD global epidemic. With NCDs, including CVD, now incorporated into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the first time in history, there has never been a more compelling and urgent opportunity for us to work together to encourage and assist governments to achieve the new target set out in the SDGs of reducing premature deaths from NCDs by 2030,” said Dr Salim Yusuf, World Heart Federation, President.
