Improve Global Health Fund Methodology

Addressing global health is crucial because the well-being of communities across the world is interconnected. Diseases do not recognize borders, and a health crisis in one region can quickly become a global threat, as seen with recent pandemics. Improving global health not only saves lives but also strengthens economies, promotes peace, and fosters international cooperation. By ensuring everyone has access to essential healthcare, we reduce inequalities, prevent the spread of disease, and build a healthier, more resilient world for future generations. In a globally connected society, prioritizing global health is not just a moral imperative but a practical necessity.

The World Health Organization uses a measure called disability-adjusted life years (DALY) to measure the burden of disease, with a higher DALY indicating a greater burden of disease.  DALYs for a disease are the years of life lost either due to premature death or due to a disability. For example, a disease that takes the life of a five-year-old would have a high level of DALYs because that child lost 65 years of potential life.  Experts aim to reduce the number of DALYs by preventing diseases that contribute to high numbers of DALYs. Leading causes of DALYs in 2021 included:

• Ischemic Heart Disease

• Neonatal Health

• Stroke

•  Lower respiratory infections

•  COPD

•  Diabetes

•  Low back pain

•  Road injuries

• Diarrheal Diseases

Children under five continue to see high rates of preventable mortality and morbidity. In 2002, the global under-five mortality rate was 37 deaths per live births, meaning that close to 5 million children died before their fifth birthday, with over half these child deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.  (Cite, WHO, GBD). These often preventable deaths are driven by risk factors such as low birth weight, short gestation, being underweight or malnourished, unsafe water, and poor sanitation facilities and practices. For most of these issues, proven interventions such as vaccination, treatment, and better sanitation exist, but they may not be at scale where needed. 

Adult-related health issues are driven by risk factors related to lifestyle and behavior, such as high blood pressure, obesity, alcohol, and tobacco use. What were once considered to be only diseases of the higher-income countries are increasingly prevalent in low and middle-income countries as they develop.

Reducing Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) on a global scale requires a combination of interventions that target the most significant causes of illness, disability, and premature death. Some of the most effective global health interventions include:

1. Vaccination Programs: Immunization against infectious diseases like measles and polio significantly reduces the burden of disease, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. According to the WHO, Immunization currently prevents 3.5 million to 5 million deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza, and measles.

2. Maternal and Child Health Interventions: Improving maternal health through prenatal care, skilled birth attendance, umbilical cord care,  and access to emergency obstetric services, alongside promoting breastfeeding and nutrition, can drastically reduce DALYs associated with maternal and child mortality.

3. Tobacco Control and Anti-Smoking Campaigns: Implementing policies to reduce tobacco use, such as taxation, smoking bans, and public education, can lower the prevalence of smoking-related diseases like lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

4. Access to Clean Water and Sanitation: Providing access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is essential in preventing waterborne diseases like diarrhea, which is a leading cause of death, particularly in children under five.

5. Combating Malnutrition: Addressing both undernutrition and obesity through food security programs, education, and access to nutritious foods can prevent diseases like stunting in children and chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

6. HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment: Expanding access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), promoting safe sex practices, and providing education on HIV prevention can reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS significantly.

7. Control of Vector-Borne Diseases: Implementing interventions like bed nets, insecticides, and rapid treatment for diseases such as malaria can dramatically reduce DALYs in affected regions.

8. Non-Communicable Disease Prevention: As these conditions become more prevalent globally, interventions aimed at reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, through lifestyle changes, early detection, and management are increasingly important.

 9. Road Traffic Safety Initiatives: Implementing traffic safety measures, such as helmet and seatbelt use, improved road infrastructure, and stricter enforcement of traffic laws, can significantly reduce injuries and deaths from road traffic accidents.

These interventions, when implemented effectively, have the potential to greatly reduce the global burden of disease and disability, leading to healthier populations and more robust economies.

• Age Group: Reducing morbidity and mortality among children less than five years old is likely the most impactful way to reduce the global burden of disease.

• Geography: The greatest opportunities to impact and improve global health are typically in low—and middle-income countries. Priority will be based typically in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.  

• Effective Strategies: As described above, there are effective strategies available to reduce the global burden of disease that just require resources to scale and maintain.

• Commitment to Transparency: Organizations have a 4 Star, 3 Beacon completion (minimum of one assessment for beacons with multiple assessments) on Charity Navigator, with a score of 95 or higher indicating a strong commitment to communicating their work, outcomes, and impact to donors and stakeholders

• Addresses the Leading Causes of DALY: The organizations must address the leading causes of disease burdens, particularly in Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, mainly among children aged less than five. This focuses our lists on organizations working to scale immunization and interventions to address neonatal and maternal health-related issues, diarrheal diseases, malaria, and poor sanitation. This package of interventions is proven to greatly reduce childhood mortality and diseases. 

• Proven Effectiveness: Organizations that have a track record of successfully improving global health through evidence-based interventions and scalability

The percent of the fund allocated to the nonprofit will be based on the following factors:

• Reach: The number of people potentially reached by the interventions based on their annual reports or geographic scope.

• Effectiveness of the intervention:  Organizations addressing high DALY issues with proven interventions will be provided a greater allocation. When the evidence isn’t clear, the allocations will be equally distributed.

Caveat: Often, a nonprofit’s annual reporting or descriptions of interventions are not precise enough to make clear distinctions. When that is the case, we will default to an equal allocation of resources.