About Us

Why This Campaign

Every year, nearly 25 million deaths and over 50 million births go unrecorded, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. Without high-quality, accurate data, governments lack a complete picture of demographic trends and causes of death, making it difficult to allocate resources effectively. The campaign aims to bridge this gap by highlighting the global challenge of unrecorded deaths and the lifesaving potential of reliable cause-of-death data.

Through powerful stories and practical resources, this campaign urges governments and other decisionmakers to prioritize stronger death registration systems and invest in the collection and analysis of cause-of-death data—one of the most impactful public health investments a country can make.

The Data for Health (D4H) Initiative is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Since 2015, the Initiative has forged robust partnerships with governments and global organizations in 82 countries. The goal of the Initiative is to strengthen data on births, deaths and risk factors for noncommunicable diseases, and improving lives through better informed public health policies.

Partners

Data for Health is a collaborative initiative that includes:

And Ministries of Health, civil registration agencies and national statistics offices around the world.

Press

Indian Express: 45 Million Deaths Go Unrecorded Globally Every Year, New Campaign Urges Investment in Vital Statistics Systems
El País: “Counting Deaths Helps Save Lives”: Africa Demands Control of Its Health Data After USAID Closure
Folha de S. Paulo: Lack of Data on Deaths Limits Public Health Policies, Experts Say
Bangkok Post: Health Data Systems To Help Curb Cancer
Daily Nation Zambia: World Health Summit Calls for Smart Care System in Health Decisions
Sound of Africa: Global Health Leaders Highlight Critical Role of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Disease Control and Policy Planning

Campaign Events

The Lifesaving Potential of Death Data: Shaping Health Policies that Save Lives

Join the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative for a timely discussion with high-level government officials, CRVS experts, global technical partners and donors about the challenges and lessons learned in strengthening CRVS in low- and middle-income countries and for real-world examples of how cause-of-death data has shaped the public health policies that save lives.
Registration required; space is limited.