The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have emphasized the need for ongoing financial support for pandemic preparedness and response. This appeal was made during a high-level side event at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday. The event was titled “Two Regions, One Future: Financing Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Build Global Health Security.”
Call for Strategic Investment in Health Security
Organized by the governments of Guyana and Burundi in collaboration with PAHO and Africa CDC, and supported by the United Nations Foundation, the gathering aimed to unite leaders and stakeholders from Africa and the Americas. They discussed strategies to enhance health systems through country-led priorities, regional capacities, and sustained financial investment.
Jean Kaseya, the director-general of Africa CDC, cautioned that nations should not wait for a health crisis to mobilize resources. He stressed the importance of investment prior to emergencies, urging countries to define their preparedness objectives and ensure that institutions can respond swiftly to emerging health threats. Kaseya advocated for better alignment of domestic, regional, and international resources to facilitate timely action.
PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa highlighted the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, which underscored the risks of reliance on distant sources for crucial medicines and medical supplies. “Preparedness is not a cost we pay during an emergency. It is an investment we make before one strikes,” Barbosa stated. He pointed out that while countries possess diagnostic tools and action plans, securing sustained financing remains a significant challenge.
Discussions also focused on critical areas for investment, including disease surveillance, laboratory systems, early warning, and emergency coordination. Participants identified these areas as essential for detecting and containing potential pathogens while safeguarding vital health services and minimizing social and economic disruptions.
President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana urged the need for enhanced scientific capacity in the Global South, emphasizing that access to scientific advancements should not be restricted by geographic factors. He asserted that nations in the Global South require the ability to develop and access life-saving innovations.
Participants at the meeting also called for a shift from crisis-driven funding to strategic, long-term investment in pandemic preparedness. The goal is to protect lives, bolster economic resilience, and support national security and sustainable development.
The discussions are positioned ahead of the upcoming Second UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, set for September 25. This meeting aims to assess progress since the previous high-level discussion in 2023 and explore sustainable political and financial commitments for pandemic readiness in a challenging global funding context.
Why It Matters: Enhanced pandemic preparedness and response funding is crucial for global health security. Continued investment can provide nations with the necessary resources to avert and mitigate future health crises, ultimately protecting lives and strengthening public health systems worldwide.
