A health crisis is a negative change in mental or physical health or access to healthcare that lasts over a year. It can be triggered by an accident or natural disaster or by a sudden illness or medical condition.
Interconnected crises sparked by conflict, displacement, poverty, disease and malnutrition are putting unprecedented pressure on people, systems, and health workers worldwide. Project HOPE shows up on the front lines to help them save lives and restore hope in the face of these challenges.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought greater attention to longstanding inequities in healthcare access and outcomes, particularly for communities of color, individuals living with disabilities, and those with lower incomes. They bear a disproportionate burden of health outcomes, hospitalizations, and mortality, with impacts compounded by other systemic factors.
Obesity is a health crisis that affects people of all ages and demographics. It is linked to many diseases and a leading cause of death worldwide. Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and dementia, and is a contributing factor in other chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
The global noncommunicable disease (NCD) epidemic is rapidly expanding and already threatens to overtake infectious diseases as the leading cause of death globally. NCDs include cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and diabetes, and are mainly found in low- and middle-income countries, where health education is less common and quality treatment and care are more challenging to find. They can also be more difficult to recognize, and are often overlooked or misdiagnosed.