Millions Saved: Proven Successes in Global Health

One of the greatest human accomplishments has been the spectacular improvement in health since 1950. In developing countries, life expectancy has risen from 40 to 65 years, and the chances that a child will survive to the age of five has doubled. In addition to directly improving people's lives, this progress contributes to economic growth. While some of the improvements in health is the result of overall social and economic gains, about half of it is due to specific efforts to address major causes of disease and disability -- such as providing better and more accessible health services, introducing new medicines and other health technologies, and fostering healthier behaviors.

Millions Saved: Proven Success in Global Health is about part of that success story: remarkable cases in which large-scale efforts to improve health in developing countries have succeeded - saving millions of lives and preserving the livelihoods and social fabric of entire communities.

In 2004, 17 original success cases were compiled in Millions Saved: Proven Successes in Global Health written by Ruth Levine and the What Works Working Group, with Molly Kinder.

NEW EDITION! Case Studies in Global Health: Millions Saved published by Jones and Bartlett in 2007 documents 3 new successes in Nepal, Chile, and India, and updates to the 17 original success stories. The case book accompanies a new global health textbook.

From the eradication of polio in Latin America, to the elimination of measles in southern Africa, to HIV prevention in Thailand, the cases provide clear evidence that large-scale success in health is possible. The book provides policy-relevant information about how major successes can be achieved in the future, and clear evidence that global health challenges, which are often perceived as daunting, are indeed solvable.

Additionally, on this website, you can:

• Review the Millions Saved Overview including the preface by Nancy Birdsall, quotes and tributes, and discussions of the world's need for large-scale health success and the importance of evaluation in understanding what works in global health
• Read summaries and full text of each of the 20 case studies
• Learn about the common elements of success
• Read the seven key findings of the book and the myths they disprove
• Read more about the project including a description of the What Works Working Group, the What is success?, How do we know?, Frequently Asked Questions, and a biography of lead author Ruth Levine.