Global Health Council Welcomes the Inclusion of Critical Funds for the Global Response in Revised COVID-19 Emergency Bill

Global Health Council welcomes the nearly $10 billion to support the global response to COVID-19, including significant funds for Gavi, the Global Fund, PEPFAR, health systems, and more, included in the revised COVID-19 emergency bill released by House leadership last night. These funds are critical to respond to the evolving pandemic and maintain essential health services. The global effort to end the COVID-19 pandemic will be a long road, but an investment in the global response now is a down-payment on maintaining progress against the pandemic. We urge Congress and the Administration to continue to work toward and pass legislation that addresses these urgent needs.

While we applaud the inclusion of funds for the global response in the revised bill, additional funds for bilateral global health programs are needed so our response to COVID-19 can protect global health and development commitments, address secondary impacts of the pandemic, advance innovations designed for use in low-resource health systems, and avoid backtracking on the significant progress fueled by decades of U.S. investment. Global Health Council continues to join the broader international development community in calling for at least $20 billion for the international 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