Global Health Initiatives
Is U.S. funding for global health increasing, or are we scaling back? Will we keep our commitments to successful programs like PEPFAR for HIV/AIDS while adding new funds for new priorities, or will an increase in one area mean a reduction in another? Most importantly, what will this mean for the lives of millions depending on money from the U.S. and international agencies? In May, President Obama announced his new Global Health Initiative (GHI), which would encompass all global health priorities, from HIV/AIDS to maternal and child health to health systems strengthening. While the announcement was short on details, the initiative represented an important opportunity to achieve bold and ambitious targets in the fight against the most daunting global health challenges of our generation. HAI and a coalition of global health "implementers" and advocacy organizations came together to propose appropriate U.S. program and funding targets that should define the GHI. The report, entitled "The future of global health: Ingredients for a bold and effective U.S. Initiative," was launched on October 29th with a media teleconference and Congressional briefing in Washington, D.C.
The report recommends policy changes necessary to facilitate the success of the GHI as well as set targets and funding levels for each of the six priority areas: HIV; tuberculosis; malaria; reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health; health systems and health workforce; and neglected tropical diseases. Overall, the Initiative should:
- Support people-centered, outcome-oriented services and direct health service delivery
- Continue promised growth of HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria programs
- Set U.S. targets on global need to scale-up sexual, reproductive, maternal, and child health and neglected disease response
- Strengthen health systems by focusing on recruiting, training and retaining health workers
The report further urges the GHI to define ambitious, measurable targets to reach universal access to services and to include sufficient funding, estimated at around $95 billion over six years. The Global Health Initiative—and foreign aid reform—should build accountability, focus on outcomes, and support country needs and community rights. To learn more about our coalition's recommendations for the GHI, download the full report, or visit the GHI campaign web site where you can find a recording and transcript of the media teleconference (featuring Rep. Jim McDermott), an executive summary of the report, and more. HAI and our partners are continuing to advocate on this issue, as more concrete plans for the GHI and foreign aid budgets (for instance, the recently announced State Department and foreign operations appropriations bill) are currently being developed. We will continue to keep you updated throughout the next few months.
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