Daily Times

Global Health Initiatives are humanitarian initiatives focussing on raising money for those suffering from infectious diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as for vaccinations, health promotions, and strengthening the healthcare systems in developing countries. Individuals, stakeholders, and organizations come together to address global issues like climate change, human rights, etc.

The first Global Health Initiative (GHI) was launched in 2002 at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum by Kofi Annan. Since then, there have been many initiatives, and some of the famous ones are:

? the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

* the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund)

* World Bank’s Initiative

* GAVI Alliance

PEPFAR is an initiative established in 2003 to raise funds for AIDs through an agreement between the US members of Congress, presidential administrations, and the people of the United States. The Global Fund and GAVI are two initiatives established by public-private partnerships to raise money for AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, immunizations, and vaccines. On the other hand, the World Bank is an international financial institution known as the largest funding source for AIDS.

Countries with little resources, inadequate infrastructure, and limited workforce require the aid of initiatives to provide proper facilities in the healthcare systems.

Strengthening Health Systems

The main goal of GHIs is to strengthen the healthcare systems of developing countries. Countries with little resources, inadequate infrastructure, and limited workforce require the aid of these initiatives to provide proper facilities in the healthcare systems. Seven countries, including Afghanistan, Djibouti, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Yemen, are eligible for GAVI support for health system strengthening. GHIs focus on enhancing the capacity of the healthcare systems to provide all the essential services to the patients and staff needed for providing care to those suffering from AIDs, tuberculosis, and malaria. The long-term impact of this can be a decrease in disease prevalence by carefully addressing the disease’s social, political, or environmental causes. Health initiatives focused on improving living conditions, sanitation, and access to healthy food can eradicate diseases and strengthen the country’s health system.

World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO is an authority within the United Nations responsible for assisting countries and their governments to establish country-level health systems. The WHO supports developing countries by preparing them to fight against emerging diseases. They have different ideas and approaches to handle global and regional health threats and emergencies like COVID-19.

Gavi the Vaccine Alliance

GAVI provides new vaccines and aids in manufacturing vaccines for low-income countries. This initiative helped build partnerships with vaccine manufacturers and make deals for vaccine procurements at a low price for eligible countries. GAVI donates vaccines to countries and arranges vaccine funds campaigns. It provides technical assistance to developing countries to strengthen their health systems and enhance their immunization outcomes. GAVI supported 16 countries by donating US$3 billion for vaccines. More than 822 million children worldwide have been immunized with the help of GAVI.

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Global Fund is the initiative started to raise funds for treating patients suffering from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Global Fund partnered with national governments and civil society in 2002 to achieve the following for those suffering from these three diseases:

* 50 million lives were saved

* 8.5 billion USD was raised for TB patients

* 16.4 billion USD were raised to fight against malaria

* 24.2 billion USD was raised for HIV programs and 5 billion USD for TB/HIV programs

The Global Fund raised 4.4 billion USD globally to help the countries fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Their 2023-2028 strategy includes staying prepared for such emergencies and pandemics in the future, leading to a sustainable health system. Besides epidemic preparedness, Global Fund performs other activities, including laboratory testing, surveillance infrastructure use, infection control in health facilities, sample transportation, and information campaigns.

Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)

Polio is known to be a prevalent disease worldwide; however, since GPEI was established in 1988, the incidence of the wild poliovirus has decreased by more than 99%. Now, polio is prevalent in only two regions, Afghanistan and Pakistan. But, there has been an increase in vaccine-derived polio (cVDPV) cases. Global Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026 involves donating $43.55 million to help procure vaccines, strengthen polio surveillance, and introduce polio activities into immunization systems.

International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)

IPPF is considered to be the largest non-government organization to provide sexual and reproductive health services to low-income countries. It was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. IPPF also plays the role of being the global advocate to fight for sexual and reproductive health rights. In 2022, the International Planned Parenthood Federation contributed over 150 policies and delivered 226.9 million services to support sexual and reproductive health. In 2022-2023, the core contribution of IPPF is almost $4.0 million. IPPF’s main initiatives targetted issues such as child marriage, people trafficking, integrated services for people living with HIV, inclusion of sexual and gender diversity, supporting refugees, and advocating for access to safe abortion services.

All such collaborative initiatives lead to a global impact that not only helps a specific race or gender but the entire world as a whole. Organizations and agencies like WHO and others must step forward to serve humanity in the best of their interest as this is one of our prime responsibilities.

The writer is a former member of Punjab Assembly