Health is an international matter, one shared across the world, among many nations and populations. The Board on Global Health (BGH) carries out activities and studies aimed at advancing the health of populations worldwide.
The Board’s efforts concern international health policy as well as the health concerns of developing countries. It focuses largely on public health programs for prevention and control of both disease and disability. In recent years, BGH committees have considered and analyzed the role of the United States in global health.
BGH also collaborates on health issues of mutual concern with the medical academies in other countries. Together with the National Research Council, the Board manages the African Science Academy Development Initiative (ASADI), a 10-year effort funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aimed at strengthening the capacity of African science academies to inform policy making and public discourse related to improving health.