During the ongoing World Health Assembly 2024, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced it will donate $6.5 million to the United States Fund for UNICEF to expand UNICEF’s work to improve the health outcomes of millions of children and youth at risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) living in resource-limited settings in India.
Eli Lilly is a medicine company pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years. In addition to its ongoing efforts, Lilly has committed more than $20 million since 2022
With this additional funding, UNICEF will seek to improve efforts to address NCD risk factors, strengthen health systems, enhance the ability of health workers to care for people and support millions of children and their families challenged by diseases like type 1 diabetes, respiratory illnesses, rheumatic and congenital heart disease, and sickle cell disease in resource-limited areas in India.
Luigi D’Aquino, Chief of Health, UNICEF India said, “UNICEF will work with governments and partners to strengthen health systems to effectively manage NCDs in children and young people. This will help integrate efforts into maternal, newborn, and child health programs, emphasizing prevention and management of childhood NCDs.”
Noncommunicable diseases place a significant burden on economies while being closely linked to poverty, poor social and economic development, and other inequities. This burden is disproportionately felt by low-income countries, communities, and the most vulnerable people, including children and adolescents.
According to the World Health Organization’s NCD database, in 2019, NCDs accounted for 66% of all deaths in India, 22% of which were premature. Average life expectancy is 70.79 years in India, slightly less than the world average of 73.40 years.
“UNICEF and Lilly share a similar goal to make life better for millions of people around the world,” said Lilly’s Head of Social Impact, Cynthia Cardona. “These efforts are critical to working towards changing the global landscape of NCDs and improving health outcomes for children and adolescents living in resource-limited areas in India.”
UNICEF aims to improve health outcomes for millions of children and adolescents living in resource-limited areas in India by 2030. Lilly’s support aligns with its Lilly 30×30 initiative to improve access to quality health care for 30 million people in resource-limited settings annually by 2030.
