The Cause

Why Advance Global Health?

The last century brought us groundbreaking advancements in health care industry and technology. Through pioneering research and unwavering commitment to continuing medical education, our greatest medical minds eradicated epidemics such as polio and small pox, which once crippled vulnerable populations worldwide.

At the conclusion of World War II, the United Nations established the World Health Organization, the first international body entirely dedicated to making health a global priority. Their efforts culminated at the turn of the century with the unanimous adoption of the Millennium Development Goals, three of which were directly related to health care delivery, including improving child and maternal health and combating communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria.

Despite the global medical community’s inspiring achievements and unified support for advancing global health, some of the world’s poorest people are still dying of diseases that can be easily treated by doctors with adequate training. SWME contends that medical education plays a pivotal role in addressing these enormous challenges.

The Time to Act is Now

• Over 1 billion people – one sixth of the world’s population – suffer from one or more neglected tropical diseases.
• An estimated 300 million people worldwide live in countries affected by armed conflict and political instability that destroys public health services, clean water supplies, sanitation and stable living conditions, exacerbating mortality rates.
• More than 6 million children die each year from conditions such as pneumonia and diarrhea, which are preventable by inexpensive, effective interventions.
• An estimated 536,000 maternal deaths due to childbirth occur each year and 10 million women suffer life-long complications.
• Nearly 70 percent of women in developing countries still lack a skilled attendant during delivery.
• 8 in 10 caregivers in developing countries do not know the key symptoms of childhood pneumonia.
• 3 in 4 doctors caring for sick children in developing countries in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean have basic knowledge of the leading causes of child death such as pneumonia, severe malnutrition and sepsis.
• 7 in 10 children with malaria treated at home are mismanaged, contributing to 2000 deaths everyday in Africa alone.