WHO Prioritizes Cardiovascular Health in Global Strategy
Geneva, Wednesday, 21 May 2025.
The World Health Organization is enhancing efforts to prevent and manage cardiovascular diseases, the top cause of global mortality, impacting 17.9 million lives annually.
Global Health Investment and Strategic Initiatives
In a landmark development at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly on May 20, 2025, global leaders demonstrated unprecedented commitment to cardiovascular health by pledging at least US$ 170 million to the WHO’s Investment Round [1]. This funding surge coincides with the approval of a substantial US$ 4.2 billion base program budget for 2026-2027, marking a strategic shift toward sustainable healthcare financing [2]. The WHO’s comprehensive approach includes implementing behavioral interventions targeting key risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity [3].
Innovative Training and Technology Integration
A groundbreaking initiative launched on May 19, 2025, showcases the integration of technology in cardiovascular health education. Through the ADP Mobile Solutions app, a new program aims to address the critical issue of workplace cardiac arrests, which affect over 10,000 individuals annually in U.S. workplaces [4]. This digital transformation in healthcare education has already engaged more than 160,000 users since Fall 2024, with potential reach extending to 14 million active app users [4].
Building Global Capacity
The World Heart Federation is spearheading capacity-building initiatives through its Leadership and Advocacy in Communications programme, focusing on empowering healthcare professionals to champion cardiovascular health worldwide [5]. This effort aligns with the American College of Cardiology’s upcoming 2025 Health Equity Stakeholder Summit, scheduled for June 25, 2025, in Washington, DC, which will address critical aspects of building resilient health systems [6].
Future Outlook and Commitments
The WHO’s strategic vision emphasizes long-term sustainability through a 20% increase in Assessed Contributions from member states [7]. This commitment to cardiovascular health is further reinforced by planned initiatives, including over 100 in-person Hands-Only CPR and AED training sessions scheduled nationwide through early 2026 [4]. These comprehensive efforts reflect a coordinated global response to address cardiovascular diseases as the leading cause of mortality worldwide [3].
Bronnen
- www.who.int
- www.who.int
- www.who.int
- newsroom.heart.org
- world-heart-federation.org
- www.acc.org
- www.who.int