Welcome
Health is not only a basic human right, but also a key precondition to economic development. The burden of disease in some low-income regions, especially sub-Saharan Africa, is a major challenge to economic growth and must therefore be addressed directly in any comprehensive development strategy. This burden includes severe undernutrition and devastating diseases associated with extreme poverty— such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, neglected tropical diseases and tuberculosis—as well as non-communicable diseases like depression, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
The world has reached an unprecedented level of scientific knowledge, technology and economic resources. This point in history marks both the most opportune and most crucial moment to apply our collective know-how and resources to address health issues faced by the world's 1.1 billion citizens living in poverty.
Stronger health systems will have significant and wide-reaching impacts on the potential of societies to develop. With increased prevention of morbidity, faster and more effective resolution of prevalent illnesses, and overall nurturing of healthier communities, people can learn more effectively, work more efficiently, parent more supportively and become more productive members of their communities.
The Center for Global Health and Economic Development (CGHED) plays a central role in the Earth Institute’s work to address these issues. Through understanding and addressing global health challenges, CGHED mobilizes and develops the Earth Institute’s global health programs to enable low-resource countries achieve quality health systems for the poor, sustainable economic development, and the Millennium Development Goals.
Recent News & Events
Fast Speed Mobile Networks from Zain and Ericsson Enhance Social, Economic Development in Rural Ghana, Zawya (UAE) - November 11, 2009
What can $5 credit do for Ugandan peasants?, Daily Monitor (Uganda) - November 8, 2009
Zain and Ericsson join forces to provide 3.5G in rural Ghana, IT News Africa - November 4, 2009
As Donors Focus on AIDS, Child Illnesses Languish, New York Times - October 29, 2009