New York, 19 September 2023 (TDI): Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, is set to commit £2.5 million over the next five years to the Health4Life fund, which focuses on global efforts to combat non-communicable diseases.
This announcement is anticipated to take place during an event at the UN General Assembly in New York.
The Health4Life fund, overseen by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), will receive this significant investment.
During the same week, the First Minister is scheduled to meet with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the WHO, marking a historic first encounter between a WHO Director-General and a Scottish First Minister.
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Humza Yousaf expressed the importance of this commitment, stating, “This is a noteworthy step that solidifies Scotland’s position as a global advocate for addressing non-communicable diseases and underscores the valuable role we can play in responding to health crises worldwide.”
“I take great pride in announcing our intention to become the first high-income country to contribute to the WHO’s Health4Life Fund,” hamza Yousaf said.
“This investment will enable us to support the development of new healthcare programs and the strengthening of healthcare systems in Malawi, Zambia, and Rwanda,” he added.
The WHO predicts that by 2030, non-communicable diseases, including heart attacks, strokes, and cancers, will become the leading causes of death in sub-Saharan Africa, responsible for around 3.8 million premature deaths.”
Hamza Yousaf highlighted Scotland’s expertise in addressing non-communicable diseases domestically and emphasized the importance of sharing this knowledge with global partners such as the WHO.
He concluded, “The funding that I am confirming today makes Scotland the first high-income country to support the vital Health4Life fund – but I very much hope that we will not be the last.”
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