Isabel Mestres: Why are most of international donors overlooking the local needs of LMICs

Isabel Mestres shared on LinkedIn:

”Help me understand : Why are most of international donors overlooking the local needs of LMICs and not increasing the financing of NCD local initiatives to address this crisis?

Despite being the leading cause of global mortality, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) receive less than 2% of all official development assistance for health. World Health Organization has the data: over 80% of premature deaths from NCDs occur in LMICs, perpetuating a cycle of disease, disability, and death among the most vulnerable populations.

It’s time to bridge the gap between international development priorities and local needs. See the graphic below from Rwanda: the shift towards allocating more resources to combat NCDs is becoming increasingly vital as life expectancy increases, considering the threat they pose today compared to communicable diseases.

Join me and Githinji Gitahi (AMREF), Sania Nishtar (Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance), Mohamed Abdulazit (Africa CDC), Klaus Schlueter (MSD), Suzanne Silantoi. L (Nairobi City County) and others TBC during the World Health Assembly, to bring attention to the need for the global community to listen and balance the investment towards where is needed. Register.”

Source: Isabel Mestres/LinkedIn

Isabel Mestres is the CEO of the City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), previously being the Director of Global Public Affairs. She also led initiatives in membership and partnership development at the International Union for Cancer Control. Mestres’ strategic sense positions her to propel C/Can forward, advancing its mission of enhancing cancer care accessibility in low- and middle-income nations.