The World May Agree on a Pandemic Accord, But How Will it be Implemented?

01/03/2023 Editorial team

As World Health Organization (WHO) member states get into line-by-line negotiations on a proposed pandemic accord to guide the world’s approach to future pandemics, there are growing calls for independent monitoring to ensure that the terms of such an accord are implemented. Layth Hanbali explains. Health Policy Watch: You and other colleagues have noted that […] Continue reading ->

As Monkeypox Threat Grows, Africa Needs More Robust Health Surveillance

08/08/2022 Ochieng’ Ogodo

LEIDEN – Pandemic preparedness rests on having a robust surveillance system to identify health threats – something that is still “rudimentary” in many African countries, says Professor Salim Abdool Karim, a South African infectious diseases epidemiologist. Describing monkeypox as a threat to health security in Africa, Karim said that it was important that health services […] Continue reading ->

New Pandemic Treaty Could Contain a Mix of Binding and Non-Binding Measures, Says Senior US Official

20/07/2022 Peter Kenny

The United States is open to drafting a pandemic accord that contains both legally binding and voluntary elements, according to Loyce Pace, assistant secretary for global affairs at the US Department of Health & Human Services. Pace also told a small group of journalists Wednesday at the US Mission to the UN in Geneva that […] Continue reading ->

Getting Malaria Control Back on Track and Reimagining Global Health

28/06/2022 Paul Adepoju

In the wake of last week’s Kigali Summit on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, getting malaria elimination back on track is a top priority says a senior Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation official – in addition to ensuring the world learns from the COVID pandemic that “global health” is truly a global matter. The world […] Continue reading ->

Loyce Pace: US ‘Hopeful’ on Reaching Consensus on Reform of International Health Regulations

25/05/2022 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

GENEVA – Despite pushback Monday from many WHO member states, including the 47-member ‘Africa Group’, Loyce Pace, US Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services remains “hopeful we may reach consensus” on reforming international health emergency rules at the World Health Assembly this week. The proposal backed by Australia, […] Continue reading ->

Global Health Matters: Around the World of Public Health in Audio

13/04/2022 Maayan Hoffman

After Dr Garry Aslanyan became an avid follower of podcasts, he realized there was a dearth of material from the genre in his own global health field. So he set out to fill that gap with a new series featuring public health professionals and policymakers from around the world who have made a difference – […] Continue reading ->

Nkengasong’s PEPFAR Prospects and Hopes for Africa CDC

25/03/2022 Paul Adepoju

The current Director of the Africa CDC is a vote away from leading PEPFAR. He unveils his vision for the US-led global HIV/AIDS response and future wishes for the Africa CDC. Dr John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is on track to lead the United States President’s […] Continue reading ->

United States Publicly Expresses Support for Director General Tedros in Second Term at WHO’s Helm

23/02/2022 Peter Kenny & Elaine Ruth Fletcher

The United States will support Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a second term as head of the World Health Organization – a move that is largely symbolic insofar as Tedros is running unopposed in the elections, scheduled for the 75th World Health Assembly, 22-28 May. Although over a dozen countries in Europe and elsewhere lined […] Continue reading ->

Missing in Action: Why Children Are Not Getting Tuberculosis Treatment

25/11/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

Every day, more than 650 children around the world die from tuberculosis – largely because they have never had the chance to be diagnosed and treated. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, children have fallen behind on almost every score – from access to schooling and nutrition to mental health and basic health services. […] Continue reading ->

‘Dose Donations are Proving to be a Good Medicine for Vaccine Nationalism’, says UNICEF’s Gian Gandhi

20/07/2021 Priti Patniak/Geneva Health Files

As an official partner of the COVAX Facility, UNICEF is responsible for procurement, logistics and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines. PRITI PATNAIK spoke with Gian Gandhi, who coordinates COVAX operations for UNICEF, to get a sense of the challenges faced by the organization during the pandemic in the context of production shortages and realities at the […] Continue reading ->