Eli Lilly and UNICEF Join Forces to Enhance Health Care for Children Worldwide
In an inspiring move aiming to transform the landscape of children's health globally, Eli Lilly and Company has announced a strategic partnership with UNICEF USA. This initiative marks a significant step forward in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among children and adolescents, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Over a span of six years, the partnership is poised to touch the lives of more than 30 million children and caregivers across 21 countries, a testament to the ambition and scope of their shared mission.
The collaboration comes at a pivotal time as Eli Lilly celebrates its 150th anniversary. Demonstrating its commitment to improving global health, the company has pledged an impressive $50 million to support UNICEF's efforts. The funds will be directed towards fortifying primary healthcare systems, enhancing the ability to prevent, detect, and manage various non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, congenital heart disease, sickle cell disease, and respiratory complications, which disproportionately affect young populations.
In addition to tackling these pressing health issues, the initiative also focuses on addressing childhood obesity and related health risks. By enhancing support systems for children struggling with overweight and obesity, the partnership aims to lay a strong foundation for better long-term health outcomes, fostering wellness not just for individual children but for their families and communities at large.
UNICEF's role will be essential in operationalizing this partnership. The organization will assist governments in integrating prevention and care services into routine health offerings, thereby expanding access to quality healthcare within local communities. The plans include training healthcare workers, improving diagnostic capabilities, and ensuring long-term care pathways for children and adolescents suffering from NCDs. This strategic framework is designed to create a more coordinated approach to health services, delivering critical care closer to home for vulnerable populations.
Kitty van der Heijden, UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director of Partnerships, underscored the urgency of this issue, stating, "Millions of children are deprived of the building blocks necessary for lifelong health due to non-communicable disease risk factors established early in life. Our collaboration with Lilly is leading the way to ensure children get a healthy future in life."
The rising prevalence of NCDs among children globally is alarming, with low and middle-income nations bearing the brunt of this crisis. These regions account for a staggering 82 percent of premature deaths associated with NCDs, largely due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure and limited access to nutritious food and safe environments. Without prompt prevention and quality management regimes in place, these diseases can result in lifelong health complications, pushing many children into cycles of poverty and ill health.
Patrik Jonsson, Lilly's Executive Vice President and President of Lilly International, emphasized the importance of their initiative, asserting, "Every child, everywhere, deserves a healthy future. That begins with working to strengthen healthcare systems in resource-limited settings to halt the rise of NCDs." His statement reflects a conviction that Lilly has maintained throughout its 150 years of operation, focusing on creating a significant impact in critical health areas.
Lilly’s efforts align with its broader 30x30 initiative, which aims to provide access to quality healthcare for 30 million people in resource-poor settings each year by 2030. Having already surpassed this goal in 2025, Lilly's ongoing partnership with UNICEF is a natural extension of its commitment to enhancing health systems and delivering NCD prevention measures in areas that need them most.
Since 2022, with Lilly's backing, UNICEF has made substantial strides, reaching nearly 16 million children and caregivers by providing essential health services aimed at tackling childhood NCDs, while simultaneously raising awareness and fortifying health systems in disadvantaged settings. This collaboration is a notable example of how public-private partnerships can unite to effect lasting changes in healthcare delivery and access.
Through these collaborative efforts, Eli Lilly and UNICEF are not just working to treat ailments but are, more importantly, placing a greater emphasis on preventive measures to ensure that future generations are healthier. By confronting the root causes and enhancing healthcare access, they aim to break the cycle of health crises affecting children around the globe. As they embark on this journey together, their work is a reminder of the powerful impact that dedicated partnerships can have in promoting health equity and improving outcomes for millions of children.
The collaboration comes at a pivotal time as Eli Lilly celebrates its 150th anniversary. Demonstrating its commitment to improving global health, the company has pledged an impressive $50 million to support UNICEF's efforts. The funds will be directed towards fortifying primary healthcare systems, enhancing the ability to prevent, detect, and manage various non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, congenital heart disease, sickle cell disease, and respiratory complications, which disproportionately affect young populations.
In addition to tackling these pressing health issues, the initiative also focuses on addressing childhood obesity and related health risks. By enhancing support systems for children struggling with overweight and obesity, the partnership aims to lay a strong foundation for better long-term health outcomes, fostering wellness not just for individual children but for their families and communities at large.
UNICEF's role will be essential in operationalizing this partnership. The organization will assist governments in integrating prevention and care services into routine health offerings, thereby expanding access to quality healthcare within local communities. The plans include training healthcare workers, improving diagnostic capabilities, and ensuring long-term care pathways for children and adolescents suffering from NCDs. This strategic framework is designed to create a more coordinated approach to health services, delivering critical care closer to home for vulnerable populations.
Kitty van der Heijden, UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director of Partnerships, underscored the urgency of this issue, stating, "Millions of children are deprived of the building blocks necessary for lifelong health due to non-communicable disease risk factors established early in life. Our collaboration with Lilly is leading the way to ensure children get a healthy future in life."
The rising prevalence of NCDs among children globally is alarming, with low and middle-income nations bearing the brunt of this crisis. These regions account for a staggering 82 percent of premature deaths associated with NCDs, largely due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure and limited access to nutritious food and safe environments. Without prompt prevention and quality management regimes in place, these diseases can result in lifelong health complications, pushing many children into cycles of poverty and ill health.
Patrik Jonsson, Lilly's Executive Vice President and President of Lilly International, emphasized the importance of their initiative, asserting, "Every child, everywhere, deserves a healthy future. That begins with working to strengthen healthcare systems in resource-limited settings to halt the rise of NCDs." His statement reflects a conviction that Lilly has maintained throughout its 150 years of operation, focusing on creating a significant impact in critical health areas.
Lilly’s efforts align with its broader 30x30 initiative, which aims to provide access to quality healthcare for 30 million people in resource-poor settings each year by 2030. Having already surpassed this goal in 2025, Lilly's ongoing partnership with UNICEF is a natural extension of its commitment to enhancing health systems and delivering NCD prevention measures in areas that need them most.
Since 2022, with Lilly's backing, UNICEF has made substantial strides, reaching nearly 16 million children and caregivers by providing essential health services aimed at tackling childhood NCDs, while simultaneously raising awareness and fortifying health systems in disadvantaged settings. This collaboration is a notable example of how public-private partnerships can unite to effect lasting changes in healthcare delivery and access.
Through these collaborative efforts, Eli Lilly and UNICEF are not just working to treat ailments but are, more importantly, placing a greater emphasis on preventive measures to ensure that future generations are healthier. By confronting the root causes and enhancing healthcare access, they aim to break the cycle of health crises affecting children around the globe. As they embark on this journey together, their work is a reminder of the powerful impact that dedicated partnerships can have in promoting health equity and improving outcomes for millions of children.
Topics Health）
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