The COVID-19 crisis has shed light on our need to think differently about how we address the world’s health and socioeconomic challenges. Despite efforts by governments and multilateral groups to counterbalance COVID-19’s impact, health systems continue to be disrupted two years into the pandemic. Overburdened and underfinanced health systems mean deteriorating responses to all global health challenges, one of which is the AIDS pandemic. The global response provided to the COVID-19 crisis left Africa behind in vaccination, resulting in spillover effects on the economy, AIDS, and other diseases.
Without urgent action to remedy the effects of COVID-19’s impact on the global AIDS response, another 7.7 million lives will be lost and the burden of present and future costs to government for HIV prevention and treatment will rise. A greater AIDS burden also correlates to lost economic capacity. As we consider tackling both current and future pandemics, how can we make sure health systems are better prepared and that the world has access to the newest diagnostics and medicines?
In this panel discussion, experts in health and equitable financing will discuss COVID-19’s impact on the AIDS response and consider how the world can move toward an integrated financing strategy to better combat current pandemics and prepare for those to come. John Monahan, senior advisor for global health at Georgetown University, will give welcoming remarks, and Matthew Kavanagh, currently on teaching leave from Georgetown University to serve as deputy executive director, a.i. for policy, advocacy and knowledge at UNAIDS, will moderate the discussion.
This event is co-sponsored by Georgetown University’s Global Health Initiative and O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law with UNAIDS.
Issues
COVID-19 Global Health Law Health Equity Health Governance HIV/AIDS