The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today the appointment of Mr Michael R. Bloomberg, philanthropist and former three-term Mayor of New York City, as the first WHO Global Ambassador for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). 

Mr Bloomberg has been a leading voice in public health since the early eighties, with successful initatives in tobacco control, nutrition, road safety, and injury prevention. Over the next two years in his role as WHO Global Ambassador for NCDs, he will support the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) targets of reducing premature NCD deaths by one third by 2030, and halving the number of road deaths and injuries by 2020.

“I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Mr. Bloomberg on his appointment. We are united by a vision of a future where all people affected by or living with NCDs live full and healthy lives, free from stigma and discrimination, and preventable disability and death. Mr. Bloomberg has a proven track record of public health achievements, and we are certain that he will be successful in encouraging governments to make faster progress on NCD prevention and control”, said Mr José Luis Castro, Chair of the NCD Alliance and Executive Director of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).

“The adoption of the SDGs in September 2015 with a standalone target on NCDs firmly secured NCDs as a global health and development priority for all countries. Integration into the SDGs recognises that investing in efforts to reduce the global NCD burden is essential to achieving sustainable human development. We congratulate WHO and Mr Bloomberg on this exciting announcement, which comes at a crucial moment in global development. We look forward to working with Mr. Bloomberg and stand ready to support him to achieve our shared goals”, said Katie Dain, NCD Alliance Executive Director.