The Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) has been selected by ABC News to be a contributing partner on its year-long series focused on global health. “Be the Change: Save a Life” will premiere Dec. 17 with a day of reporting across all ABC News broadcasts and a special edition of “20/20” airing at 10 pm EST.
DGHI will contribute expertise and background research for stories that will appear on all ABC News programming. DGHI faculty and staff will also contribute content and information on a website, saveone.net, which is dedicated to the series.
“We’re pleased our Institute is becoming known as a reliable, responsive resource for research and evidence on a range of global health topics,” said Michael Merson, DGHI founding director. “We’re excited to be a part of such an initiative that will raise awareness of and promote change on a variety of global health issues. I applaud ABC News for focusing its attention and resources on this important topic.”
“Be the Change: Save a Life” sets out on a journey across three continents and into nine countries, focused on the health conditions endured by the poorest of the poor – and some of the innovations that may be able to save them.
The initiative will be led by “World News” anchor Diane Sawyer and ABC News Chief Health and Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser. The series is supported through a $1.5 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and an investment by ABC News of more than $4.5 million in the series, covering personnel and production.
“This year-long series on ABC News is a unique opportunity to present the stories, problems and solutions of global health to our audience,” said Eric Avram, executive producer of the Specialized Units at ABC News. “We are very excited to have the Duke Global Health Institute as a contributing partner in this initiative.”
For more information on the ABC News Global Health Series, visit ABC News.
