Resolve to Save Lives is a global public health organization that was established in 2017 by Dr. Tom Frieden, the former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The organization's core mission is to prevent millions of deaths from the world's most significant health threats, specifically focusing on epidemics and cardiovascular disease. Initially operating as an initiative within Vital Strategies, it transitioned to an independent nonprofit in 2022.
The organization's efforts are concentrated in two primary program areas. The first is epidemic prevention, which was a founding principle of the organization after the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak. Resolve to Save Lives works with countries to strengthen their capacity to find, stop, and prevent infectious diseases. They have been a key partner in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting over 60 countries and training tens of thousands of healthcare workers. They also advocate for strategies like the 7-1-7 target, which measures how quickly health systems can identify and stop epidemic threats.
The second major focus is cardiovascular health. Resolve to Save Lives aims to prevent 100 million deaths from cardiovascular disease within 30 years. They collaborate with international bodies like the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization to implement scalable programs that address high blood pressure and unhealthy diets. This work includes providing technical and operational support to countries to implement blood pressure control programs, which have enrolled over 30 million people. They also partner on initiatives to reduce global salt intake and eliminate artificial trans fats from the food supply. Their funders include Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gates Philanthropy Partners.
Resolve to Save Lives has a strong presence in India, with a dedicated New Delhi office that opened in 2024 to support its long-standing partnerships in the country. A core part of their work is the India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI), which they launched in 2017 in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and state governments. This initiative has grown to provide care for millions of patients with hypertension and diabetes. The strategies of the IHCI have since been integrated into the National Program for Prevention & Control of NCDs.
Meet the team
Resolve To Save Lives, on LinkedIn
Work in India
Dr Syed Imran Farooq, Executive Director - India
Dr Swati Bhardwaj, Sr Technical Advisor, Nutrition
India team
The organization's efforts also extend to promoting healthier diets, with a specific focus on reducing sodium intake. This work supports the Indian government's goal of a 30% reduction in salt consumption. Interventions include promoting low-sodium salt substitutes and implementing healthy food procurement policies in public places, such as schools.
India was also the first low- to middle-income country to join the global movement to eliminate trans fats from the food supply, a movement in which Resolve to Save Lives played a key role by providing technical expertise for the implementation of the World Health Organization's REPLACE action package.
