Global silent killers

Global health confronts the risk of an inflection point. Decades of progress had us lagging behind in some places, making little or no gains in others but now facing an unacceptable need for bolder action. Pain hurts so much: 2025 got started right in the middle of 42 officially authorised health emergencies afflicting an estimated 305 million.

Infectious diseases continue as the dark cloud. Tuberculosis spiked back up in 2023 in some 8.2 million new cases, the highest annual number ever reported, and an estimated 1.25 million fatalities. Its return for the second time TB the top infectious killer was ahead of Covid-19. During the interim, the coronavirus persists. In May 2025, 73 reporting countries had an 11% test positivity ratio equalling previous highs.

Chronic non-communicable diseases overshadow ever larger. Ischaemic heart disease alone was the cause of over 9 million deaths worldwide in recent times, the largest single cause of death worldwide. Three quarters of total mortality now occur due to causes like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes.

These diseases don't flare up overnight but accumulate as silent killers. The disproportionate impact occurs upon countries in the middle- and lower-income bracket where preventive care is scantiest as well as health infrastructure weakest.

Mental health is also an unsung emergency. It now affects more than a billion people suffering from depression or anxiety disorders but not being properly treated. In far too many instances, individuals continue to endure stigma, underinvestment and inadequate connections between the mental and primary care systems.

It's all exacerbated by a shortage of health care professionals. It estimates the World Health Organization that the world will lose at least 10 million health care professionals by 2030, the African region alone accounting for almost 70%. It increases the risk of outbreaks, complicates disasters, and makes chronic diseases harder to treat.

Child mortality embodies the tragic image of the ways the poorest of the world torment. In 2023, about 4.8 million children perished before the age of five, of whom 2.3 million were newborns. Most of the deaths were avoidable if healthcare facilities were on a par with those available in wealthier nations.

Crossing health and climate change aggravates these dangers. Mid-century the climate emergency might cause 14.5 million extra fatalities as well as exacting trillions of dollars in tolls on economies as well as on health infrastructure.

In this regard, the stakes are irrefutable. Global health ceased being an individual country concern. It supports international stability, security, as well as equity. In the absence of effective health systems, the spread of outbreaks accelerates, economies stall and life gets ruined.

The planet requires bold, swift actions. Firstly, invest more in health systems, primary care in particular, disease surveillance, and universal access.

Secondly, the health workforce must be scaled up through the training of additional professionals, their retention in underserved communities, and technology as well as task shifting for resource optimisation.

Thirdly, the integration of all health care levels at all levels of health care must occur so well-being for physical health care occurs.

Fourthly, tuberculosis as well as neglected disease control measures must be accelerated through the improvement of diagnosis, access to treatment as well as additional funding for research.

Fifthly, the health peril posed by the climate must be addressed through the development of resilient health systems, early warning mechanisms as well as disease control measures.

Lastly, global cooperation must occur.

Urgency, courage and solidarity are now required. Lethargy will see the world fall into the old rut where preventable diseases, inequalities and avoidable deaths become the order of the day once again.