GHEF is openly sharing the integrative thinking from its 2012 and 2013 Symposia with the world by publishing Annals of Global Health Equity Foundation—a compilation of presenters’ papers from the 2013 symposium titled, “Chronic Diseases and the Equity Challenge,” along with those from GHEF’s 2012 symposium titled, “Global Health Equity in Times of Crisis.”

In 2012, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a declaration acknowledging that the global burden and threat of non-communicable diseases constitutes one of the major challenges for development in the 21^st century. Inequities in health around the world are exacerbating this crisis situation.

In 2013, Global Health Equity Foundation (GHEF) addressed the non-communicable disease crisis with its second annual symposium titled, “Chronic Diseases and the Equity Challenge,” held in Geneva, Switzerland. Symposium presenters defined the growing threat of chronic and non-communicable diseases, and offered tools and approaches for the future. The interaction of participants highlighted the significance of holistic thinking and cross-discipline approaches in meeting this challenge.

For a printable and viewable version of Annals, click here (PDF, 2.9 MB).  GHEF intends to follow up this release of Annals with a new publication after each annual symposium, relating the knowledge participants accumulated. This is an open access, publicly available and widely disseminated publication, intended to further GHEF’s international role as a primary source of knowledge on global health equity.

We advocate on behalf of people who lack access to health education, preventive services and health care. Inequities in health are deeply rooted in the determinants of health, including the social, economic, political and environmental. That is why we need to continually question, challenge, and pursue health equity. Sharing expertise across sectors and disciplines is imperative as we strive to find solutions.

Only a wide, multilevel global alliance among international and national institutions and civil society organizations committed to the common good can overcome the forces that impede health equity. A global framework will enable much-needed national policymaking. Professionals and researchers concerned with health equity have a duty and ethical responsibility provide evidence, raise awareness and advocate for those policies.

Our commitment at GHEF is to demonstrate measurable impacts in health equity and to exemplify our integrative strategies.  The foundation integrates research into advocacy and capacity-building projects for improvement and progress. GHEF aspires to become a primary source for knowledge on health equity. We intend that Annals of Global Health Equity Foundation become an important source of knowledge for those working internationally and across disciplines to solve the health equity crisis.