A message from Elisha Dunn-Georgiou

This past year represented an important milestone for Global Health Council (GHC) as we kicked of our 50th anniversary. And, like all the years that came before it, 2022 was busy, productive, and focused on advancing global health equity and improving health outcomes for all.

Below, you will read about some highlights from the past 12 months. But before you dive into the details, let me share my gratitude for this community. At a time when funding for global health is (at best) flatlining, we have joined together to try to safeguard resources. We have collectively advocated for increased international health funding and pushed to prioritize global health in the National Defense Authorization Act.

In addition, GHC and our members were actively involved in the development of the newly formed Financial Intermediary Fund for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response. I could not be prouder to represent our community on the governing board as the interim civil society representative. As an active, voting board member, I hope to elevate and center community voices and demonstrate the importance of civil society in the design and governance of this new mechanism.

After three years of a destabilizing global pandemic, we were thrilled to be able to come together in person for the first time in more than two years at December’s Global Health Landscape Symposium. Over two days, more than 200 advocates, implementers, and policymakers met to reflect on the past year in global health and chart a path forward building on the progress and that was demonstrated throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

This past year allowed us to continue our work of shifting the narrative around global health security, moving it toward a definition that is multidisciplinary, holistic, and centered on the safety and security of all people.

This community knows well that health for some is not enough; that we must continue our fight for equity in global health. That is why we were so pleased to launch GHC’s inaugural Advocacy in Motion grants in 2022. This program provides microgrants to civil society organizations to support advocacy, health equity, and to amplify the voices in local and regional organizations. Through our partnerships with these organizations, we are contributing to efforts to address Universal Health Coverage gaps and improve access to quality healthcare for marginalized communities.

This past year was an encapsulation of all that GHC has done throughout the past five decades. But our efforts are far from over. There is so much yet to be done, and I know that this community is ready to do the hard work required to make progress in global health. Thank you for your enormous contributions and for working together to safeguard the world against disease and build healthier, more sustainable communities.