Global Health Council President & Executive Director Statement on Global COVID-19 Response Funding

December 08, 2020

In our interconnected world, a strong global response to the pandemic is critical. We cannot defeat COVID-19 at home without addressing the pandemic abroad. As negotiators continue to consider necessary resources for the domestic response, we urge the inclusion of at least $20 billion for the international response, including $11 billion to support bilateral and multilateral global health programs.

While we applaud the inclusion of funds for the global pandemic response in the House HEROES  Act and FY21 spending bills, resources for bilateral and multilateral global health programs must be included in the final bill. Ninety percent of countries have experienced disruption to essential health services due to COVID-19, with low- and middle-income countries reporting the greatest difficulties. As UNICEF has noted, due to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on “already fragile health systems, over 6,000 additional children under five could die a day, without urgent action.” 

Emergency funding for global health programs is urgently needed to ensure the U.S. response to COVID-19 can safeguard decades of bipartisan-supported global health and development investments, and address secondary impacts of the pandemic.

We cannot expect to reduce the harmful effects of the pandemic or thwart its spread without a global response.

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About Global Health Council
Established in 1972, Global Health Council (GHC) is the leading membership organization supporting and connecting advocates, implementers, and stakeholders around global health priorities worldwide. GHC represents the collaborative voice of the community on key issues; we convene stakeholders around key priorities and actively engage with decision-makers to influence global health policy. Learn more at www.globalhealth.org. GHC published A Guide to U.S. Investments in Global Health: Transforming Communities Worldwide, comprehensive consensus recommendations on a variety of global health issues, which are available at www.ghbb.globalhealth.org.

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Media Contact
Heyab Ogbasion, Manager, External Engagement
Global Health Council
communications@globalhealth.org
(703) 717-5283