In 2009, the world mobilized against the threat of pandemic influenza, which infected close to half a million individuals and killed approximately 15,000 others; however, the world cannot get its act together to tackle chronic diseases that affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide and which, in 2008 alone, killed more than 30 million individuals. Chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, account for close to one-half of the world's global burden of disease.

It is expected that by 2030, 7 of 10 deaths worldwide will be due to chronic diseases, and CVD will account for the largest share of these deaths. Currently, myocardial infarction and strokes account for approximately 12 million deaths worldwide each year. Al...