Seven Revolutions Forum: The Future of Chronic Disease
CSIS's Global Strategy Institute hosted Dr. Olusoji Adeyi, coordinator of public health programs at the World Bank, and Dr. Rachel Nugent, director of health and economics at the Population Reference Bureau, for a discussion titled, "The Future of Chronic Disease: Is the World Ready?"
According to the World Health Organization, noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease (including heart disease and stroke), diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancer currently account for 60 percent of deaths worldwide, and by 2020, this percentage is expected to rise to 72 percent. The developing world carries the bulk of the world’s chronic disease burden with 80 percent of chronic disease deaths occurring in low and middle-income countries today. With healthcare systems unable to sustain such heavy strains, many developing countries are on the brink of major health crises. How can the international community — both the public and private sectors — effectively invest in preventing the worldwide spread of noncommunicable diseases?
Dr. Adeyi is the coordinator of public health programs at the World Bank and an adjunct assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He has extensive experience in policies, strategies and programs for health systems and disease control at the global, regional and country levels. He led the Malaria Task Force that produced the World Bank Global Strategy and Booster Program for malaria control, and is Team Leader for the work program on public policy and the control of non-communicable diseases.
Dr. Nugent is director of health and economics at the Population Reference Bureau. She is project director of BRIDGE (Bringing Information into Decision making for Global Effectiveness) a USAID-funded project of policy communication. She heads a team of professionals involved in communication and dissemination of population-related information to policymakers, media, and researchers in developing countries. She also directs the Hewlett/PRB Research Program in Population and Economic Development.
