Priorities
COMMUNICABLE &
NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
In 2016, 27% of India’s deaths were caused by communicable diseases, while non-communicable diseases contributed to 61% of deaths.
With India holding one of the largest populations, these statistics translate to staggering numbers.
The amount of lives and productivity lost to the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the urgent need for action. Our Founder is the developer of the dengue and malaria vaccine, supporting the Indian Government leading the discourse on COVID-19 management and vaccine response.
ETI brings over three decades of experience working with global priorities of tuberculosis, malaria, and cervical cancer, with technical and policy advisory.
MENTAL HEALTH
Mental illness accounts for over13-15% of the global disease burden. Over the last three decades, every seventh Indian has suffered due to mental illnesses.
Nearly 15% of Indian adults need active interventions, and 1 in 20 Indians suffer from depression. This has drastically worsened during the pandemic.
ETI works steadily towards raising awareness, dispelling stigma, ensuring access to safe spaces, and transforming communication around mental health discourse by bringing together the best minds from the current landscape.
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
India is home to approximately 432 million women of working age. Of these, more than 3/4th are not in the labour force and often unpaid.
Women run less than 14% of India's businesses and worryingly India’s female labor force participation has fallen 9 points lower it was 15 years ago.
ETI aligns itself with the Indian government’s priorities, working closely with civil society partners for women entrepreneurship, with an ultimate aim to embolden women for stronger and healthier societies.
ADOLESCENT HEALTH
At over 250 million, adolescents make up 70% of India's youth,
and continue to face grave challenges.
ETI works on adolescent issues such as increasing self-efficacy, creating access to sexual, reproductive, and mental health resources. We recognize and focus on adolescent girls, who are particularly vulnerable to poor nutrition, school-dropout, child marriage and teen pregnancies.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
India is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines and diagnostic tests, and has expanded production rapidly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, both public and private forays in novel global health research and development is limited because of low investments, lacking links to industry, regulatory challenges, and a weak pull for private involvement.
ETI supports researchers and scientists in achieving the capital they need, and conducts landscape assessments on existing funding opportunities. ETI also leads advocacy efforts for greater funding among philanthropists and venture capitalists, and steers high-level policy changes for increased R&D budgetary allocations.
