Global Context of Public Health:

• Population: > 7 billion people worldwide, > 200 000 people added daily;
• Civil Society: Civil and foreign wars, > 43 million displaced persons and refugees
• Poverty: 

1.                1.2 billion people live on less that US$1 per day
2.                2.8 billion live on less than US$2 per day;
3.                1 in 6 are chronically hungry

• Environment: Environmental changes such water shortages, air pollution, increases in temperature
• Non-communicable disease contribute 63 % of deaths and 43 % of the global burden of disease. Already 79% of these NCDs are occurring in developing countries.
• By 2020 these will account for 73% deaths and 60% of the disease burden.
• Half of the deaths are attributable to cardiovascular diseases.
• There are more CVD deaths in India or China than in all developed countries added together.