GWI launches health initiative in line with UN goals

The non-profit Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has announced the launch of its Supporting UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiative, seeing to eradicate or improve the number of people suffering from a wide range of preventable diseases and deaths by 2030.

It notes that the gap between life expectancy and health expectancy is widening, with millions of people spending their last 10 years in sickness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), such as heart or respiratory diseases, cancer, stroke and diabetes, claim the lives of about 32 million people each year (i.e. approximately one person dying prematurely from chronic illnesses or lifestyle disease every 0.9 seconds).

“As spa/wellness/fitness/hospitality professionals, it is our duty to support preventative actions for our guests, associates and local communities,” said Initiative Chair Jean-Guy de Gabriac, who is also the founder of the successful World Wellness Weekend (Sept. 21–22, 2019). “The Supporting UN 17 SDGs Initiative of the GWI will provide useful information for the other GWI Initiatives and for spa/wellness/fitness/hospitality professionals who want to contribute through (in) their company and/or in their city to the global efforts of helping people live richer, fuller and longer lives.”