Beirut tragedy & humanitarian crises
Euractiv - World pledges €250 million to Lebanon, to be delivered ‘directly’ to population
https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/world-pledges-e250-million-to-lebanon-to-be-delivered-directly-to-population/
“
World leaders on Sunday (9 August) pledged more than €250 million for disaster-struck Lebanon, conference host France said, with the emergency aid to be delivered “directly” to a population reeling from the deadly port blast in Beirut….”
See also a
Lancet World Report - Lebanon faces humanitarian emergency after blast
Lancet Editorial – Humanitarian crises in a global pandemic
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31749-9/fulltext
“On Aug 19, the world will mark a UN World Humanitarian Day very different from any other. But while COVID-19 captures the world's focus, other humanitarian crises also need attention, as evidenced most recently by the tragic aftermath of the explosion in Beirut….”
The editorial
concludes: “…UNOCHA suggests that the global COVID-19 humanitarian response plan will cost US$10·3 billion, but only 20% has so far been pledged. By contrast, in just 2 months, governments spent $10 trillion on economic stimuli for their own economies. COVID-19 will worsen health burdens in humanitarian settings, and international disputes over resources have left people in these settings without support. This is nonsensical. If nothing else, COVID-19 is likely to persist in humanitarian settings where health care is poor even if the rest of the world moves on, constantly risking another outbreak. As states find themselves consumed with their own more immediate problems, they must remember that other humanitarian crises around the world have not diminished, and that the inequality exacerbated by COVID-19 is not resolved by myopically focusing on local problems. True concern for inequality demands attention to all the world's humanitarian needs.”
Global tax justice
Independent - Bernie Sanders introduces bill to tax 60% of millionaires' earnings during pandemic to pay medical costs
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/bernie-sanders-billionaire-tax-coronavirus-medicare-a9660681.html
“Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk would all be taxed tens of billions under bill.”
“Senator Bernie Sanders has announced legislation that would impose a 60 per cent tax on the wealth gains of billionaires from 18 March through the end of 2020 for the purposes of funding Medicare and paying all Americans' out-of-pocket health-care needs for a one-year period. Mr Sanders said the tax hike was meant to help people who are struggling financially during the coronavirus pandemic. "The legislation I am introducing today will tax the obscene wealth gains billionaires have made during this extraordinary crisis to guarantee healthcare as a right to all for an entire year," Mr Sanders said in a statement….”
“…The tax – called the "Make Billionaires Pay Act" – would target the wealth of 467 of the wealthiest billionaires in the country, all of which have seen substantial growth during the pandemic….”
For the time being, the bill doesn’t have a chance to become reality, but as a fan of Gramsci, never say never
😊.
See also
Anand Giridharadas - Does billionaire wealth need a haircut -- or an amputation?
Planetary Health
Lancet Planetary Health – August issue
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/issue/vol4no8/PIIS2542-5196(20)X0009-X
Make sure you read at least:
Concluding: “
Living through a pandemic is complicating just about all of our societal problems and goals. Unfortunately, this additional drain on our resources and capacities changes little about the unfolding ecological and climate problems we face. The very real danger is that COVID-19 looms so large in our minds we miss the obvious writing on the wall about the other problems we must still address. Slipping progress, while very understandable is simply not a viable option, the climate will cut us no slack.”
Young scholars, practitioners and advocates propose a roadmap for intergenerational leadership in #PlanetaryHealth.
“…. young people face many structural barriers when exercising advocacy and leadership, from resistance by authorities, to exclusion from decision making, to blatant tokenisation and siloed youth events. A major issue is the inclusion of a specific privileged fraction of youth at the expense of perspectives from low-income and middle-income countries, Indigenous communities, and nationally marginalised groups. These quick-fix youth engagement solutions limit input from vulnerable populations. To create systemic change, we outline a pragmatic roadmap based on three pillars: governance structures enabling young people's participation, funding that supports inclusion and compensation of young people from all backgrounds, and capacity building for young people. Although these work areas include recent achievement, there is an urgent need for further efforts and collaboration….”
Gates Notes - COVID-19 is awful. Climate change could be worse.
Bill Gates;
https://www.gatesnotes.com/Energy/Climate-and-COVID-19?WT.mc_id=20200807100000_COVID19-and-Climate_BG-TW_&WT.tsrc=BGTW
Gates’ take on the climate challenge. With
three lessons he sees from Covid-19 for the response against climate change:
Let science and innovation lead the way; make sure solutions work for poor countries too; start now.
Vox – Air pollution is much worse than we thought
D Roberts;
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2020/8/12/21361498/climate-change-air-pollution-us-india-china-deaths
Cfr a tweet: “
the latest research on air pollution is jaw-dropping. Scientists now believe its effects on health & mortality are roughly *double* previous estimates. If that’s true, air-quality benefits alone will easily pay for the clean-energy transition..”
The Conversation - Heatwaves don’t just give you sunburn – they can harm your mental health too
https://theconversation.com/heatwaves-dont-just-give-you-sunburn-they-can-harm-your-mental-health-too-121203
Tell me about it 😊. Read about possible pathways.
Covid- 19 key news: > 750000 deaths so far… but daily numbers plateauing
With focus on
key WHO messages from this week, as usual.
Cidrap News – Global trend shows hint of plateau
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/08/global-trend-shows-hint-plateau-nz-suspicion-shifts-quarantine-breach-flare
(13 August)
“ Global COVID-19 cases showed early signs of a plateau, though countries continue to battle large outbreaks, new surges, and smaller flare-ups… … The pandemic total today reached 20,728,874, and 751,448 people have died from their infections, according to the Johns Hopkins online dashboard…”
There are signs of a plateau, but
rises in India and some Middle East countries.
“…
Also at today's briefing, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said the International Monetary Fund estimated that the pandemic is costing the global economy $375 billion a month and that G20 countries have already spent $10 trillion on stimulus and mitigation. He warned that economies won't rebound anywhere if the virus isn't stamped out everywhere, and that the ACT Accelerator, designed to speed the development of and provide equitable distribution of vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics, provides the best route out of the pandemic, but it requires $31.3 billion, a fraction of continued damage to economies and cost of further stimulus….”
On that
Thursday media briefing, see also
UN News -
WHO chief calls for solidarity in financing, ensuring equal access to future COVID-19 vaccine
“
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that six months after first sounding the international alarm over COVID-19, the UN agency is now intensely focused on shepherding global vaccine candidates through the necessary trials, and guaranteeing rapid, fair and equitable access to them for all countries. … … Among them, the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, launched in April, has shown results, Tedros said, with nine vaccine candidates in the COVAX portfolio now advancing through Phase 2 or 3 trials….”
Cidrap News - Countries face diverse challenges as pandemic total nears 20 million
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/08/countries-face-diverse-challenges-pandemic-total-nears-20-million
From earlier this week. (10 August) “
As the global COVID-19 case number grows within striking distance of 20 million cases today and with virus levels rising in many countries that had previously curbed their outbreaks, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) today urged nations to use all the tools they have to continue reopening safely. ….”
“…India's daily COVID-19 death total yesterday crossed the 1,000 mark for the first time, with 1,007 reported, the Times of India reported. The country, which has the world's third highest total, also reported 63,851 new cases. … India is the country with the most new infections over the past week (402,287), ahead of the United States (376,471)….”
“Meanwhile, Brazil's cases topped 3 million in recent days, with about 23,000 reported yesterday. Global health officials have said the virus is now spreading from major cities into more rural and remote locations where health access and systems are weaker…”
UN News - WHO chief points to ‘green shoots of hope’ in COVID-19 pandemic
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/08/1069842
“Although COVID-19 cases are on track to hit 20 million worldwide this week, and 750,000 deaths, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has pointed to “green shoots of hope” amidst the global crisis, while urging both governments and people everywhere to work to suppress the new coronavirus….”
… Tedros underlined two elements for addressing the pandemic effectively, namely that “leaders must step up to take action and citizens need to embrace new measures.”
The WHO chief stressed that virus suppression is crucial for societies to re-open safely, including for students to return to school. …. … “My message is crystal clear: suppress, suppress, suppress the virus. If we suppress the virus effectively, we can safely open up societies,” he said.”
See also the
Telegraph:
“
Behind these statistics is a great deal of pain and suffering,” Dr Tedros said. “But I want to be clear, there are green shoots of hope and no matter where a country, a region, a city or a town is - it’s never too late to turn the outbreak around.”
(see also below- sections on Access & Funding
) “He added, however, that the ACT Accelerator has received just 10 per cent of the funding it needs. This initiative is a global collaboration led by the WHO to share both the costs and risks of developing vaccine and treatment candidates, as well as ensure that all countries have access to the medical tools. …”
Cidrap News - Vaccine capacity ramps up for lower income countries
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/08/pandemic-total-passes-19-million-vaccine-capacity-ramps-lower-income
See also below (section on Access).
“
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, today announced that it and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will collaborate to provide SII, the world's largest vaccine maker, with financial support to increase vaccine capacity now, so that production can begin as soon as a vaccine is approved. The funding includes $150 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The doses could be produced as early as the first half of 2021. … … SSI would gear up to make candidate vaccines from Astra Zeneca and Novavax if they are licensed and receive World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification. The institute has capped the vaccine price at $3 per dose, with support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The development is part of the COVAX Facility, a collaboration between the WHO, Gavi, and CEPI to share the risks of vaccine development, invest in manufacturing, and pool purchasing power to deliver vaccines equally among all countries. The advance marketing commitment part of the COVAX Facility provides vaccine purchase funding for 92 low- and middle-income countries….”
UN News - New guidance for protecting migrant workers during the coronavirus pandemic
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/08/1069862
“As migrant workers continue to be on the front lines of the collective response to COVID-19, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) are releasing new employer guidance for measures to protect them.”
WEF (blog) - 'Do you really need to party?' WHO asks world's youth
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/08/coronavirus-covid-19-who-youth-young-party-pandemic/
Mike Ryan, more in particular. (
I’m afraid the answer is yes, Mike.)
“
The World Health Organization has warned that young people must resist their urge to party to help prevent new outbreaks of coronavirus. Young people are much less likely to be severely affected from the disease, but can still spread it. The proportion of 15-24 year olds infected with disease has increased three-fold in the past five months….”
Reuters - Exclusive: Germany and France quit WHO reform talks amid tension with Washington - sources
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-reform-exclusi/exclusive-germany-and-france-quit-who-reform-talks-amid-tension-with-washington-sources-idUSKCN25329P
Must-read, on WHO reform: “
France and Germany have quit talks on reforming the World Health Organization in frustration at attempts by the United States to lead the negotiations, despite its decision to leave the WHO, three officials told Reuters.”
“
The move is a setback for President Donald Trump as Washington, which holds the rotating chair of the G7, had hoped to issue a common roadmap for a sweeping overhaul of the WHO in September, two months before the U.S. presidential election….”. The dickhead.
HPW -Patchwork Of Traveler Testing & Quarantine Policies Cause Confusion, WHO Recommends Travelers Expect Sudden Changes
https://healthpolicy-watch.news/governments-take-different-approaches-to-detecting-imported-infections-as-borders-open-up/
“
A World Health Organization spokesperson on Friday said that the Organization is not well-positioned to make specific recommendations about when, where, and how travelers should be tested or quarantined for COVID-19 as countries reopen aviation, deferring the policy question to national governments. “Some of it is really dependent on what your national authorities ask of you. WHO provides guidance to governments, but then the governments will have their own recommendations as to when you should be tested or retested, how soon before travel you need to have taken your test, etc. So some of those [questions] are not really on our plate to be able to answer,” WHO spokesperson Nyka Alexander said at live-streamed WHO Q&A on international travel….”
Guardian - Covid to displace more than a million across the Sahel, new tool predicts
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/aug/11/covid-to-displace-more-than-a-million-across-the-sahel-new-tool-predicts?CMP=twt_a-global-development_b-gdndevelopment
“
Software hailed as a ‘game-changer’ in providing early warning for humanitarian relief efforts as virus fuels conflict.”
“
Coronavirus is predicted to push more than 1 million people from their homes across the Sahel, creating havoc in an already highly fragile region, according to new forecasting software. Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria in west Africa are predicted to see displacement as a result of the increasing conflict, unemployment and human rights abuses brought on by fallout from the coronavirus, the analytical tool developed by the humanitarian group Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has found. Analysing national factors such as economy, conflict level, climate, governance and food security, the Foresight tool uses open data from sources including the World Bank and the UN to predict forced displacement in a given country….”
Reuters - Delay routine dental checkups, WHO urges, until COVID risk is known
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-who-dental/delay-routine-dental-checkups-who-urges-until-covid-risk-is-known-idUKKCN2571WN
“Dental patients and staff need to be protected from any potential infection by aerosol-generating procedures, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday, as dentists return to work in areas where the COVID-19 pandemic is easing. There is currently no data on the spread of coronavirus from the dentist’s chair, it said, calling for more research into common procedures that produce tiny floating particles that may cause infection if inhaled. These include three-way air/water spray, ultrasonic cleaning equipment that removes deposits from the tooth surface, and polishing, the WHO said in new guidance. WHO guidance recommends in case of community transmission to give priority to urgent or emergency oral cases, to avoid or minimise procedures that may generate aerosol, prioritise a set of clinical interventions that are performed using an instrument and of course to delay routine non-essential oral health care,” Benoit Varenne, a WHO dental officer, told a news briefing…”
SCMP - WHO will start its investigation into coronavirus origins in Wuhan but says case zero may be elsewhere
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3096958/who-will-start-its-investigation-coronavirus-origins-wuhan-says
“
World Health Organisation research into the origins of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 will start in Wuhan, but the WHO stressed that the central Chinese city might not be the place where the virus jumped from bats to humans. Meanwhile, a Wuhan laboratory that has studied coronaviruses extensively and that US President Donald Trump claimed could be the origin of the virus would not be investigated, an official in charge of the lab told US television network NBC….”
UN News - Coronavirus and schools: Access to handwashing facilities key for safe reopening
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/08/1070072
“
Nearly 820 million children worldwide do not have basic handwashing facilities at school, putting them at increased risk of COVID-19 and other transmittable diseases, according to a report published on Thursday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF. “Access to water, sanitation and hygiene services is essential for effective infection prevention and control in all settings, including schools", said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General. “It must be a major focus of government strategies for the safe reopening and operation of schools during the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic.”…”
Cfr
WHO -
2 in 5 schools around the world lacked basic handwashing facilities prior to COVID-19 pandemic — UNICEF, WHO
See also
the Telegraph -
Nearly half the world's schools do not have access to soap and water to fight Covid-19, study finds
Politico – Germany, France knock down Trump push for WHO overhaul
https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-france-reject-donald-trump-push-for-world-health-organization-reform/
See also a
Reuters article from last week.
Excerpt: “…
the U.S. administration has pushed forward reform talks among the G7 nations in recent months despite also initiating the year-long process of withdrawing from the Geneva-based health agency. Germany and France also support changes at the WHO, but they've taken the opposite approach. Berlin amped up its funding to fill in gaps left by the U.S., contingent on signs of change. “The focus of the international discussions should be on strengthening WHO in general, its work in health emergencies and the work under the International Health Regulations,” the health ministry spokesman said. France and Germany have separately drafted a paper on improving the WHO’s preparedness to respond to pandemics that is gaining support, a Geneva-based diplomat said. A draft version called for higher mandatory contributions to the agency and its emergencies program while improving transparency at the WHO, according to a French government document viewed by POLITICO….”
HPW - There’s ‘No Evidence’ Of Foodborne Transmission Of COVID-19, Says WHO
https://healthpolicy-watch.news/theres-no-evidence-of-food-borne-transmission-of-covid-19-says-who/
“There is ‘no evidence’ that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be transmitted in food or on food packaging, said the World Health Organization on Thursday. WHO’s Executive Director of Health Emergencies Mike Ryan made the comments in response to reports that a dozen frozen chicken wings imported into China’s southern city of Shenzhen tested positive for COVID-19, sparking concern that contaminated food could spur outbreaks of the coronavirus….”
And some news bits & pieces:
From late last week
: “Just 10 African countries account for 80% of testing on the continent, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday. “
Covid-19 Access to oxygen, vaccines, medicines,…
Guardian - Fighting for breath: how the medical oxygen industry is failing African hospitals
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/aug/10/fighting-for-breath-how-the-medical-oxygen-industry-is-failing-african-hospitals?CMP=twt_a-global-development_b-gdndevelopment
One of the reads of the week. In-depth
Investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
“Sub-Saharan hospitals are dependent on costly oxygen from multinational suppliers. As Covid-19 spreads, doctors are being forced to make terrible choices.”
“… Some experts put considerable blame on two multinational gas suppliers that dominate the market for oxygen cylinders across much of the continent, saying that their high prices and systems make the treatment unaffordable. Ex-employees, industry insiders and hospital staff point to the processes and prices Linde Group and Air Liquide have for medical oxygen and say they are leaving hospitals struggling for supplies. In European and US hospitals, liquid oxygen is delivered by tanker, stored in tanks, converted to gas and piped directly to bedsides. But for nations without this infrastructure, cylinders have to be bought in. As a result oxygen in sub-Saharan Africa is around to five times more expensive by volume, according to an investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ)…”
Quote:
“…Air Liquide and the Linde Group, European companies whose African subsidiaries include Afrox and British Oxygen Company (BOC), also supply “industrial oxygen” to the mining, chemical, welding and food industries. Globally the Linde Group and Air Liquide made revenues of $28bn and $24.5bn respectively in 2019. Ex-employees and analysts suggest some gas companies have likely made profit margins of between 45% and 88% on medical oxygen….”
NPR - Prices For COVID-19 Vaccines Are Starting To Come Into Focus
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/08/06/899869278/prices-for-covid-19-vaccines-are-starting-to-come-into-focus
Focus on the US here
. “How much will vaccines against the coronavirus cost? Even though none has finished clinical testing, some clues about pricing are starting to emerge.”
“…. Cambridge, Mass.-based Moderna, one of the leading horses in the vaccine race, has already made deals at between $32 and $37 per dose of its experimental coronavirus vaccine in agreements with some foreign countries, rattling consumer advocates, who fear an unfair deal for U.S. taxpayers. … …. Pfizer's agreement with the federal government is the most lucrative to date. The government agreed to buy 100 million doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, being developed with German biotech firm BioNTech, for $1.95 billion. That works out to about $20 per dose….”
“Moderna views pricing of its coronavirus vaccine in two stages: the pandemic period and the endemic period, CEO Bancel said Wednesday during the conference call. "At Moderna, like many public health experts, we believe that SARS-CoV-2 virus is not going away, and that there will be a need to vaccinate people or give them a boost for many years to come," he told investors. During the pandemic period, he said the vaccine would be priced "well below value," but afterward, it would be more in line "with other innovative commercial vaccines." That means prices could go up. That two-tiered pricing outlook highlights the U.S. government's misstep in failing to add reasonable pricing clauses to its contracts with drugmakers, says Kathryn Ardizzone, a lawyer with Knowledge Ecology International, a nonprofit public interest group that works on intellectual property issues….”
FT - China’s military takes centre stage in Covid-19 vaccine race
https://www.ft.com/content/2c3ae017-6c09-4f7e-93b8-f8039fe79a6c
“
PLA soldiers receive CanSino inoculation as coronavirus accelerates ‘military-civil fusion’.”
“While governments around the world are planning to give the first doses of a proven Covid-19 vaccine to healthcare workers who are most exposed to the virus, China is prioritising people on a different frontline: the military. … … CanSino Biologics, a Chinese vaccine maker that has announced several sets of positive trial results, is already providing a vaccine to People’s Liberation Army soldiers, even though safety testing for commercial sale of the product is not yet complete. The decision has set the country apart in the frantic global race for a vaccine — and highlighted the central part played by the PLA in broader attempts to vanquish Covid-19. Efforts to combine military and civilian technologies are longstanding in China, but they have become more pronounced under President Xi Jinping. He has driven a campaign of “military-civil fusion. … Adam Ni, a director at the China Policy Centre, a research group in Canberra, said the military’s advanced medical research in areas with a military application, such as contagious diseases and biological weapons, made it a natural resource for Chinese leaders to tap. “The PLA has done a lot during the pandemic,” he said. At the fulcrum of co-operation is CanSino, a Tianjin-based group whose share price is up more than 350 per cent since the start of 2020 thanks to its vaccine work. and coronavirus has become an accelerant….”
GAVI (press release) - Up to 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to be made available for low- and middle-income countries as early as 2021
https://www.gavi.org/news/media-room/100-million-covid-19-vaccine-doses-available-low-and-middle-income-countries-2021
“
New landmark collaboration between the Serum Institute of India (SII), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate manufacturing and delivery of up to 100 million doses of future safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for low- and middle-income countries in 2021. Vaccines will be priced at maximum US$ 3 per dose and made available to up to 92 countries included in Gavi’s COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC). …”
“… The Gavi COVAX AMC, which is currently seeking at least US$ 2 billion in initial seed funding, will meet at least part of the cost of procurement for the vaccine doses. Last week the Gavi Board agreed upon the final list of 92 countries that will be supported by the AMC. Under the new collaboration, AstraZeneca’s candidate vaccine, if successful, will be available to 57 Gavi-eligible countries. Novavax’s candidate, if successful, will be available to all 92 countries supported by the AMC. These countries align with SII’s licensing agreements with the two partners….”
Spiegel International - Cutting Corners in the Race for a Vaccine
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/corona-cutting-corners-in-the-race-for-a-vaccine-a-a5276781-7d13-432e-8862-6caf3922906c
“
Russia, China and India are racing to find a coronavirus vaccine. But international standards are not always being respected. Some researchers have even tested their remedies on themselves.”
Guardian - Russia approves coronavirus vaccine despite testing safety concerns
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/11/russia-approves-coronavirus-vaccine-despite-testing-safety-concerns-vladimir-putin
Speaking of ‘cutting corners’, this news got Putin headlines all over the world (
as well as some hilarious pictures on social media 😊).
“
Russia has approved a controversial Covid-19 vaccine for widespread use after less than two months of human testing, and administered a dose to one of Vladimir Putin’s daughters. The development was hailed by the president as evidence of Russia’s scientific prowess, but the truncated testing regime has raised eyebrows elsewhere for skipping so-called Phase 3 large-scale safety trials, which usually take months. While the approval paves the way for mass inoculations in Russia, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, it is unlikely to accelerate the pace of efforts to produce a vaccine for use in the west, where licensing requirements are more stringent. Russian authorities have said that medical workers, teachers and other at-risk groups will be the first to be inoculated, planned to begin in October….”
See also a
tweet by Gregg Gonsalves: “
OK. "Raised concerns" is the understatement of the year. This vaccine did not go through proper study. Full stop.”
Meanwhile (via the Guardian):
“The World Health Organization (WHO) and Russian health authorities are discussing the process for possible WHO pre-qualification for its newly approved vaccine, a WHO spokesman has said. ……. The WHO’s spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told a UN briefing in Geneva: We are in close contact with Russian health authorities and discussions are ongoing with respect to possible WHO pre-qualification of the vaccine but, again, pre-qualification of any vaccine includes the rigorous review and assessment of all required safety and efficacy data….”
More links on
the Russian “Sputnik V” vaccine:
Bloomberg -
Industry Body Calls Russian Covid-19 Vaccine a Pandora’s Box
Science (blog) -
The Russian Vaccine (by Derek Lowe) - mostly focusing on the development timeline.
“
I think it’s a ridiculous publicity stunt. If it’s supposed to make Russia look like some sort of biotechnology powerhouse, then as far as I’m concerned it does the opposite….”
Science (News) -
Russia’s approval of a COVID-19 vaccine is less than meets the press release
“
Despite Putin’s reported endorsement, little-tested vaccine is not approved for widespread use until 2021.”
Guardian - 'They've jumped the gun': scientists worry about Russia's Covid-19 vaccine On concerns like ADE, and others.
HPW – Russia’s Rapid COVID-19 Vaccine Approval Draws Intense Criticism From Some – And Offers To Collaborate From Others
https://healthpolicy-watch.news/76288-2/
“Russia’s speedy approval of a COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday has drawn widespread criticism from Health Ministers, researchers, and industry groups alike. However, it has also spurred interest and offers to collaborate on testing the new vaccine in other countries, including from quarters as farflung as Israel and the Philippines….”
And a quote
: “But the World Health Organization refrained from openly joining the chorus of criticism. A WHO spokeperson told Health Policy Watch that WHO experts were “in touch” with the Russian vaccine’s development team, and stressed that vaccine research protocols should be followed. “Accelerating vaccine research should be done following established processes through every step of development, to ensure that any vaccines that eventually go into production are both safe and effective,” said the spokesperson….”
And via the
FT : “…
the leaders of Serbia and the Philippines have already said they will use it, while the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Mexico have agreed to run trials. Mr Dmitriev said 20 countries wanted 1bn doses….”
Why Switzerland's Moderna Covid-19 vaccine deal is risky
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/why-switzerland-s-moderna-covid-19-vaccine-deal-is-risky-/45961190
Tu quoque, Switzerland? “
Switzerland’s order for a vaccine from American biotech firm Moderna – its first such move – is a sign that the country holds little hope for fair distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine, experts say.”
HPW - Ensuring Global Access To A COVID-19 Vaccine Will Require A Massive Dose Of Funding – But How Much Really?
https://healthpolicy-watch.news/ensuring-global-access-to-a-covid-19-vaccine-will-require-a-massive-dose-of-funding-but-how-much-really/
“More than US $100 billion will be required just to scale-up manufacturing and ensure worldwide distribution of a coronavirus vaccine, said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in prepared remarks at a WHO press conference on Monday. He said that the World Health Organization’s ACT Accelerator consortium has received only 10% of the funding that would be required for scale up and production of a new vaccine, as well as new COVID-19 treatments and diagnostics. However, Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance cited a much more modest requirement in an interview with Heidi News last week, republished today by Health Policy Watch.
In his interview, Berkley said that a new COVID-19 vaccine could be produced and distributed for under $US 50 per dose. The vaccine arm of the ACT Accelerator is thus looking to raise US $2 billion to help secure 2 billion doses of the vaccine for low-income countries that cannot afford to purchase the vaccine themselves, as well as some stock for higher income countries that bet on the wrong vaccine candidate. According to Gavi’s documents on the vaccine investment case, some US $18.1 billion would be required to fund the final development, production, and deployment of all 2 billion doses. “But here’s the thing,” added Berkley, “the pandemic is costing the world $375 billion a month in lost GDP. If you look at the overall costs, the vaccine bill could be as high as $75 billion. That means that an effective vaccine that would help the economy recover would pay for itself in five or six days.”…”
ICCR - In Race to Develop Covid-19 Medicines, Investors Urge Pharma Cos to Put People Ahead of Profits
https://www.iccr.org/race-develop-covid-19-medicines-investors-urge-pharma-cos-put-people-ahead-profits
“
In letters sent to 17 pharmaceutical companies, investors are strongly urging financial prudence and a commitment to strategies that will ensure widespread access to treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, including affordable pricing and the sharing of technology to scale-up manufacturing. The letters were endorsed by 59 investors representing US$2.5 trillion in assets under management…”
And a few links:
Q & A “with Gavi’s Executive Director, Seth Berkley, to discuss the challenges of what could be the most massive immunization campaign ever conducted.”
“
Moderna snares deal while undertaking phase 3 clinical trials of its experimental drug.”
“
Monoclonal antibodies are complex and expensive to produce, meaning poor countries might be priced out.”
“…
That warning comes from a report released on 10 August by two leading public-health charities: the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), a non-profit research organization in New York City, and Wellcome, a research funder in London. It calls for boosting the global availability of therapeutic antibodies against COVID-19 and other diseases by developing regulatory pathways, business models and technologies to lower the cost of the pricey medicine….”
For the r
eport, see
Expanding access to monoclonal antibody-based products: a global call to action
“
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are one of the most powerful tools in modern medicine. From cancer to COVID-19, they are being developed to treat many different diseases. However, most of the world’s population don’t have access to them. This report sets out a roadmap to making these lifesaving treatments affordable and available, particularly to those living in low- and middle-income countries.”
Covid-19 funding, debt relief, …
SCMP - US beats China in coronavirus funding to WHO, despite threats to withdraw
SCMP;
“
The United States has so far contributed more than China to the World Health Organisation’s coronavirus response, despite its threats to withdraw from the international body over alleged missteps in the early stages of the pandemic. A progress report by the WHO showed that 58 countries and entities had donated US$724 million as of June 30. China was in tenth place with a contribution of US$25 million, behind Kuwait, Japan and the US – which gave US$34 million to put it at number eight. Britain was the world’s biggest donor, contributing US$108 million. Charities and institutions also gave big, with the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund – set up to receive donations from corporations and the general public – at second place with close to US$104 million. Fifth-highest in the donations table was the World Bank, which contributed US$58 million….”
“…As the pandemic continues to spread, the WHO has estimated it will need an additional US$1 billion up to the end of the year to continue its response – a significant challenge given the impact of the coronavirus on economies around the world….”
Devex – New fund aims to deliver PPE to 1 million frontline health workers in Africa
https://www.devex.com/news/new-fund-aims-to-deliver-ppe-to-1-million-frontline-health-workers-in-africa-97813
“
Tuesday marked the launch of the COVID-19 Action Fund for Africa, or CAFA, which brings more than 30 members together in “the largest mobilization of private resources to protect Africa’s frontline health workers from COVID-19.” Anchored by a $10 million commitment from the medical assistance organization Direct Relief, the fund has begun delivering nearly 60 million pieces of PPE, and it seeks to raise up to $100 million to supply one year’s worth of PPE for 1 million community health workers across 24 African countries….”
“…Initially, organizations supporting CHWs worked on an individual basis to procure PPE, but as they continued to see inequity in access, they began to explore how a large-scale partnership could allow them to secure better prices and get supplies where they were needed most….”
Devex - Stalled negotiations cast doubt on US funding for global COVID-19 response
https://www.devex.com/news/stalled-negotiations-cast-doubt-on-us-funding-for-global-covid-19-response-97904
“U.S. congressional efforts to negotiate another COVID-19 funding bill have stalled, delaying new funding for the global pandemic response. Discussions fell apart at the end of last week, when the House and Senate were unable to find middle ground on their proposals. The House bill included no funding for the global response, while the Senate bill included about $4 billion — far less than the $20 billion that advocates say is needed. “We understand that the impasse is really around domestic issues, which are important — it means that development loses out yet again,” said Loyce Pace, president and executive director of the Global Health Council. While there was little funding for the global response included in either bill, there was hope that the ongoing discussions would result in additional funding, she said….”
Ominous tweet (via Friends of the Global Fund):
“The @GlobalFund 's COVID-19 Response Mechanism is running out of funding….”
Covid-19 Science
WHO – Draft landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines
https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/draft-landscape-of-covid-19-candidate-vaccines
As of 13 August. See a
tweet by Helen Branswell: “
29 #Covid19 vaccines are in clinical trials (ie being tested in people), @WHO 's latest vaccine tracker update says. Vaccines from 6 companies are in Phase 3, the large scale trials meant to show if a vaccine works.”
NYT - ‘A Smoking Gun’: Infectious Coronavirus Retrieved From Hospital Air
NYT;
“Airborne virus plays a significant role in community transmission, many experts believe. A new study fills in the missing piece: Floating virus can infect cells.”
“Skeptics of the notion that the coronavirus spreads through the air — including many expert advisers to the World Health Organization — have held out for one missing piece of evidence: proof that floating respiratory droplets called aerosols contain live virus, and not just fragments of genetic material. Now a team of virologists and aerosol scientists has produced exactly that: confirmation of infectious virus in the air. “This is what people have been clamoring for,” said Linsey Marr, an expert in airborne spread of viruses who was not involved in the work. “It’s unambiguous evidence that there is infectious virus in aerosols.”…”
Science (News) - The pandemic appears to have spared Africa so far. Scientists are struggling to explain why
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/pandemic-appears-have-spared-africa-so-far-scientists-are-struggling-explain-why
“
Antibody studies suggest large numbers of infections have occurred but the death toll remains low.”
BMJ (News) - Covid-19: Where are we on immunity and vaccines?
https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3096?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=hootsuite&utm_content=sme&utm_campaign=usage
“
As covid-19 vaccine trials begin to report early results and research papers on immunity shed more light on the situation, Elisabeth Mahase looks at what we know so far.”
NYT - Why the Coronavirus Is More Likely to ‘Superspread’ Than the Flu
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/07/health/coronavirus-superspreading-contagion.html?smid=tw-nythealth&smtyp=cur
“Most people won’t spread the virus widely. The few who do are probably in the wrong place at the wrong time in their infection, new models suggest.” If a new study is right, coronavirus “superspreader” events are most likely during the 1–2 day period when a person is shedding the most virus.
Science News - AI invents new ‘recipes’ for potential COVID-19 drugs
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/ai-invents-new-recipes-potential-covid-19-drugs
“Discovery could bolster global supplies of drugs.”
Guardian - Covid-19: lack of diversity threatens to undermine vaccine trials, experts warn
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/07/coronavirus-diversity-vaccine-trial-moderna
“
Oxford and Moderna trials draw from strikingly white cohort, for a virus that has disproportionately affected people of colour.”
Science - Why pregnant women face special risks from COVID-19
Science;
“Physicians and health researchers say there is preliminary evidence that pregnancy might make women’s bodies more vulnerable to severe COVID-19. In pregnancy, women’s lungs are crowded, the cardiovascular system is strained and the immune system changes to preserve the fetus’s health. There is still much that we don’t know, but the prescription for prevention is simple, where it’s feasible: masks and social distancing. And there is good news — fetuses seem to very rarely be infected late in pregnancy, and the disease has not been shown to cause birth defects.”
Stat - Antibody drugs could be one of the best weapons against Covid-19. But will they matter?
Stat;
“From the moment Covid-19 emerged as a threat, one approach to making drugs to treat or prevent the disease seemed to hold the most promise: They’re known as monoclonal antibodies. Now, scientists are on the brink of getting important data that may indicate whether these desperately needed therapies could be safe and effective. Clinical trials involving a pair of antibodies developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals will read out early results in September. A separate effort from Eli Lilly could yield data later in the fall. Despite experts’ eagerness to see the data, however, there remains a debate over just how significant a role any antibody treatment might play in changing the course of the pandemic….”
Nature - A negative COVID-19 test does not mean recovery
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02335-z?utm_source=twt_nnc&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=naturenews
“Pandemic policy must include defining and measuring what we mean by mild infection.”
HPW - E-Cigarette Use May Increase Risk Of Contracting COVID-19 In Teens & Young Adults
https://healthpolicy-watch.news/e-cigarette-use-may-increase-risk-of-contracting-covid-19-in-teens-young-adults/
“
Vaping, or the use of electronic nicotine delivery devices that vaporize nicotine-infused liquid, is linked to a dramatically higher risk of getting infected by COVID-19 in teens and young adults, according to a new study by Stanford University researchers. The study, published in The Journal of Adolescent Health just ahead of International Youth Day on Wednesday, found that teens and young adults who vaped were five times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19. Those who vaped and smoked traditional combustible cigarettes were seven times more likely to receive a positive COVID-19 diagnosis….”
Bloomberg - China Says Frozen Chicken Wings from Brazil Test Positive for Virus
Bloomberg;
For somewhat similar stories, see
Cidrap News -
New Zealand eyes freight contamination as possible COVID-19 cluster source
“
New Zealand's suspicions about imported freight come amid a spate of recent reports from different locations in China of evidence of SARS-CoV-2 on the packaging of imported seafood, some reportedly from Ecuador, Reuters reported. …… The World Health Organization (WHO) has said there is currently no evidence that people can contract COVID-19 from food or food packaging and that the transmission route is through person-to-person contact and through direct contact with respiratory droplets from an infected person….”
Covid-19 Analysis
Stat Op-Ed - Instead of lockdowns, teach people how to socialize safely in the time of coronavirus
https://www.statnews.com/2020/08/13/teach-people-to-socialize-safely-during-time-of-coronavirus/
The author has a point. After ‘social distancing’, it’s time the term ‘
socializing safely’ goes viral, across the globe.
“….I
believe that telling people to stay home and avoid all nonessential social interactions is the wrong way forward. We should instead focus on educating people and helping them socialize safely. Lessons from sex education indicate that this will be a more effective approach….”
Lancet Letter – COVID-19 combination prevention requires attention to structural drivers
Kent Buse, M Heywood et al;
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31723-2/fulltext
“
Richard Horton draws parallels between the colliding pandemics of COVID-19 and HIV, observing that both “exploit and accentuate inequalities”. He and others advocate that responses to COVID-19 learn from HIV combination prevention approaches. However, it is key that in doing so, prevention measures go beyond the behavioural interventions they call for, to include interventions that are structural and systemic in nature….”
… A rights-based combination prevention approach that addresses the structural drivers of inequality of risk and inequity of responses is as crucial to COVID-19 as it remains for HIV. We call for measures that include: a people's vaccine; a moratorium on debt repayments and progressive taxation to enable a mass roll-out of social protection, food, and income support programmes; removal of punitive laws that block access to health and social services; and civil society expertise and meaningful representation in COVID-19 governance and accountability structures as key components of COVID-19 combination prevention.”
Bloomberg – Covid’s Spreading Fast Because Billions Don’t Have Water to Wash
Bloomberg;
“
Four billion people experience severe water scarcity each year; World needs $6.7 trillion in water infrastructure by 2030: UN.”
“Years of deferred investments in clean water and sanitation are now putting everyone at risk as the virus spreads through developed and developing nations generating a cycle of infection and reinfection….”
Huff Post - Will America Let COVID-19 Become The Next HIV?
Huff Post;
On the picture in the US: “Epidemiologists are watching politicians repeat the mistakes of the past.”
“
COVID-19 Is Starting To Look Like Other Diseases Of Inequality”: The coronavirus pandemic is already starting to replicate HIV’s transition from a generalized epidemic to one experienced mostly at the margins….”
Cfr tweet Ilona Kickbusch: “
there cannot be health security without social security”
Lancet Global Health (Comment) - Global health and data-driven policies for emergency responses to infectious disease outbreaks
Z Koslakidis et al ;
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30361-2/fulltext
“
The notion of sharing data during public health emergencies is … generally accepted and practised during times of crisis. Indeed, data sharing is a cornerstone of the COVID-19 pandemic response, informing public health policies and interventions and measuring their effects. However, these crisis experiences provide a strong argument that data sharing should not simply be limited to emergencies or a few high-priority threats. Emergency preparedness for anticipated and novel public health challenges requires near real-time, broad-based, continuous information, and a collaborative framework for data collection, sharing, analysis, alerts, investigation, and response….”
NYT – When Covid-19 hit, many elderly were left to die
NYT;
“Warnings had piled up for years that nursing homes were vulnerable. The pandemic sent them to the back of the line for equipment and care.”
Cfr our colleagues from Global Health Now
: “ Countries around the world have long excluded nursing homes from their pandemic preparedness plans, and now the consequences are being sorely felt, the New York Times reports. Belgium has become the unfortunate poster child of a “lethally ineffective” response when it comes to nursing homes, excluding nursing home patients from the government testing policy. Médecins Sans Frontières staff, more accustomed to war zones, were called in to help….”
For a related read, see
BMJ Global Health - Medicine is a social science: COVID-19 and the tragedy of residential care facilities in high-income countries
Telegraph - Developing world's burgeoning middle class risk being wiped out in coronavirus crash
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/developing-worlds-burgeoning-middle-class-risk-wiped-coronavirus/
“
Professionals in low incomes countries are being forced into low-skilled jobs, risking a reversal in economic progress.”
“The world's poorest have been hard hit by Covid-19, which the World Bank estimates could push up to 71 million people back into extreme poverty in 2020. But as well as reversing years of poverty reduction, the pandemic has also punctured the growth of the developing world’s burgeoning middle class. Over the last decade the middle class globally has been expanding rapidly, according to Homis Kharas, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and the co-founder of the World Data Lab. “By my calculations, over the last decade, around 100 to 150 billion people per year were entering into the middle class,” he said, defining this group as those earning between $11 and $20 a day. … … Now, the pandemic threatens to shrink middle classes and reverse this progress. “What appeared to be an inevitable and almost irresistible growth of the middle class seems to have been arrested and is declining for the first time in a very long time,” said Mr Kharas. …”
CNN - US ranks near the bottom in assessment of global pandemic response
https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-08-07-20-intl/h_18b9e65f4636a09713c4beed7822ca8e
Don’t think that
Foreign Policy index is that reliable, but at least the fact that the US ranks near the bottom seems about right.
“The US response to Covid-19 ranks near the bottom of the list of countries assessed by Foreign Policy Magazine. The magazine’s Covid-19 Global Response Index puts the US among the six worst-performing countries in the world, alongside Turkey, Iran, Mexico and Indonesia. China ranked last, in part, for its failure to report reliable test data, its minimal financial response, and its failure to communicate clearly and honestly with the public. But, the US got the lowest score for “fact-based communication.” Foreign Policy described the US government as “relatively weak” in this category, as “it has engaged in misinformation as much as any country in the Index.” Best on the list is New Zealand with a perfect score. Senegal came in second. … the index assesses 36 countries for pandemic performance based on its public health and financial response, along with how well the country’s leaders communicate using facts and science. The US came in at 31. Countries that scored higher in the index generally have a lower death and case rate and a lower number of positive test results. Countries that reacted quickly and had a targeted response tended to have better outcomes, the index showed….”
BBC News - 'Hundreds dead' because of Covid-19 misinformation
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53755067?xtor=AL-72
“At least 800 people died around the world because of coronavirus-related misinformation in the first three months of this year, researchers say. A study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene says about 5,800 people were admitted to hospital as a result of false information on social media. Many died from drinking methanol or alcohol-based cleaning products. They wrongly believed the products to be a cure for the virus….”
Development Pathways - Women’s rights should shape universal social protection as a COVID-19 response
https://www.developmentpathways.co.uk/blog/womens-rights-and-covid-19-how-womens-rights-should-shape-universal-social-protection-as-a-covid-19-response/
By R Saalbrink (Womankind Worldwide).
Quote: “…
the current global neoliberal economic system is steeped in colonialist and imperialist relationships held in place through institutional racism, patriarchy and international financial architecture. In a powerful collective digital action #FeministBailout Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) reminds us that people and planet centred policy response to COVID-19 would put “the resources in the hands of those most marginalised”, ensuring women’s equal access and control over financial and natural resources. A #FeministBailout calls for transformative new visions of democracy, accountability and governance. We need to move towards a rights-based system of collective care in which the right to social security as a universal entitlement is provided by the State. The equal value of all humankind is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. African countries have high levels of informality with a larger share of women informal workers living in extreme poverty. The lived experiences of women informal workers in Africa during the pandemic demand government attention and action. Their women’s economic rights, the cornerstone of basic human rights including the right to health and right to social security, need to be urgently prioritised….”
WEF - Wellbeing levels fell during the pandemic but improved under lockdown, data analysis shows
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/08/wellbeing-levels-pandemicr-lockdown-analysis/
Focus here on
English speaking countries. “
Researchers have looked at the period after the pandemic started, but before lockdowns came in, across the globe to gauge its impact on mental health. They used YouGov’s UK weekly mood tracker and Google Trends. After a rise in negative emotions at the start of the pandemic, wellbeing improved once lockdowns began – but not for everyone….”
But
India & South-Africa are clear outliers…
Chatham House (Expert Comment) - COVID-19 Teaches Resilience and the ‘Vulnerability Paradox’
G Price et al;
https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/covid-19-teaches-resilience-and-vulnerability-paradox
“
Humility from decision-makers, building trust in leaders and institutions, and learning from international experience are critical if countries are to better prepare for the next global crisis.”
On the vulnerability paradox: “
Prior experience of crises and disturbances, coupled with a ‘trial and error’ process of learning to deal with them, makes a society more resilient, whereas high levels of economic welfare and relative lack of recent crises leave some societies less prepared to face shocks. This is known as the ‘vulnerability paradox’….”
IHP – India’s Health Securitisation under the COVID-19 Pandemic
Vivek N.D.
https://www.internationalhealthpolicies.org/featured-article/indias-health-securitisation-under-the-covid-19-pandemic/
Quote : « …
The Indian government’s responses to ensure safety of citizens and the economy, like most countries facing the pandemic, have been a combination of lockdowns to contain the transmission of the virus and economic packages for various sectors of the economy. In framing COVID-19 as a high national security threat, the state has however adopted a security discourse, legitimising its extraordinary measures to effect the lockdown, restrict movement and increase surveillance….”
Critical Public Health (Commentary) - Science, society, and policy in the face of uncertainty: reflections on the debate around face coverings for the public during COVID-19
G Martin et al ;
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09581596.2020.1797997
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had enormous effects on health, wellbeing, and economies worldwide. Governments have responded with rapid and sometimes radical public health interventions. As nations grapple with the question of how to regain normality without unnecessarily endangering lives or healthcare systems, some scientists have argued for policies to encourage or compel the use of face coverings in community (non-clinical) settings, despite acknowledged gaps in the evidence base for the effectiveness of such a measure. This commentary has two objectives. First, in the face of strong arguments that face coverings are a commonsense intervention, with negligible downsides, that can only do good, we make the case for caution in changing policy. Many seemingly benign public health interventions have the potential to cause harm, and that harm is often socially differentiated. We present five arguments for caution in policy change. Second, we reflect on the wider implications of the increasingly overt approaches to policy advocacy taken by some scientists. Drawing from the theory of post-normal science, we argue that the science–policy interface in the case of face coverings has taken a surprisingly traditional form, falling short of interdisciplinary integration and failing to incorporate insights of the full range of relevant experts and affected stakeholders. We sketch a vision for an alternative, more mature, relationship between science and society that accepts uncertainty, embraces deliberation, and rises to the challenge of developing knowledge to improve public health.”
BMJ blog – Richard Smith: The faults and dangers of an iatrocracy
R Smith; BMJ blog;
Great blog, starting from
Bernard-Henry Lévy’s observation on the rise of medical power in the covid-pandemic. “
In his short, enjoyable, and provocative book The Virus in the Age of Madness he explains why such power is both undeserved and dangerous.”
Smith concludes: “
Doctors have important roles to play in a pandemic—primarily in treating the sick and advising on prevention—but they cannot become rulers, and politicians cannot hide behind them. And we, the people, must never succumb to the idea that a world run by doctors would be a better world.”
Global Public Health - Medical populism and the COVID-19 pandemic
G Lasco;
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17441692.2020.1807581
“This paper uses the vocabulary of ‘medical populism’ to identify and analyse the political constructions of (and responses to) the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, the Philippines, and the United States from January to mid-July 2020, particularly by the countries’ heads of state: Jair Bolsonaro, Rodrigo Duterte, and Donald Trump. In all three countries, the leaders’ responses to the outbreak can be characterised by the following features: simplifying the pandemic by downplaying its impacts or touting easy solutions or treatments, spectacularizing their responses to crisis, forging divisions between the ‘people’ and dangerous ‘others’, and making medical knowledge claims to support the above. Taken together, the case studies illuminate the role of individual political actors in defining public health crises, suggesting that medical populism is not an exceptional, but a familiar response to them. This paper concludes by offering recommendations for global health in anticipating and responding to pandemics and infectious disease outbreaks.”
BMJ Global Health – COVID-19: transformative actions for more equitable, resilient, sustainable societies and health systems in the Americas
C Etienne et al ;
https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/8/e003509
“COVID-19 has exposed structural deficiencies in health, social and economic policies and sectors in the Americas impacting the resilience of health systems and societies. Due to the pandemic, the region of the Americas is facing unprecedented challenges in the health, economic and social sectors, intensifying inequalities already present in the region. Strategic areas for priority action moving forward include (1) realignment of core values in favour of health and social development with economic development; (2) prioritisation of and investment in health, social cohesiveness, social development and protection, and (3) transformation of health systems based on primary health care. Key actions that promote needed change comprise (1) elevating health as a priority, essential for human security, as a driver for economic and social development; (2) prioritising integrated policy development and planning; (3) transforming health systems to achieve universal health and human security; (4) investing in science, technology and innovation to ensure equitable access to medicines and other health technologies; (5) strengthening the essential public health functions and risk reduction and mitigation.”
BMJ blog - How contextual issues are jeopardising the COVID-19 response in Mali?
M Ouedraogo et al ;
https://blogs.bmj.com/bmjgh/2020/08/13/how-contextual-issues-are-jeopardising-the-covid-19-response-in-mali/
Take on the Covid-19 situation & response in Mali. And the link with the (dis)trust in the government.
In the same
BMJ GH/EV blog series, see also
COVID-19 in Kenya: 150 days of learning. (by E Ochola)
Covid-19 impact on other global health programs
Nature Editorial - How to stop COVID-19 fuelling a resurgence of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02334-0
“
A focus on the coronavirus has disrupted detection and treatment of other infectious diseases. Governments and funders can do four things to avert a catastrophe.”
“First, hospitals and health authorities in affected cities and regions must recognize that AIDS, malaria and TB are surging again. … … Second, researchers must continue to refine their models using more real-world data. If Madhukar Pai is correct — that cases and deaths will be higher than the models predict — then the models need to be improved. … … Third, there is a need for public-information campaigns. … Finally, funding: “…If the usual channels for fundraising seem unlikely to deliver, alternative approaches should be tried, such as public events at which governments, companies and philanthropic organizations are invited to make funding pledges….”.
Apart from the last (ridiculous) suggestion (see above: Global tax justice), all sensible proposals.
Lancet Global Health (Comment) – Providing maternal health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30350-8/fulltext
Comment linked to a
new study in the Lancet Global Health.
See coverage in
the Telegraph -
Number of women giving birth in hospital fell by half in Nepal
“Research is first to show direct impacts of lockdown on maternal health services.”
“…
Surveys and anecdotal reports have all pointed to the fact that fewer women in developing countries have been having babies in hospitals because of disruption to health services as a result of the pandemic. But, in what the researchers believe is the first published data, evidence from Nepal shows that the numbers have reduced by half. A paper in the Lancet Global Health published on Monday shows that in nine hospitals across Nepal the number of babies born in hospitals fell by 52.4 per cent over lockdown: dropping from 1,261 per week before lockdown began in mid March to 651 per week in mid May. The study also showed that more stillborn babies were born - up from 14 for every 1,000 live births at the beginning of lockdown to 21 per 1,000 in May. And the research found that more babies died as lockdown progressed, with the neonatal mortality rate increasing from 13 per 1,000 live births to 40 per 1,000 births over the study period….”
Thomson Reuters - Pandemic seen changing how women get reproductive health care
Thomson Reuters;
“Under COVID-19 restrictions, women using medication to end unwanted pregnancies becomes a viable option, said Medicins Sans Frontieres and Marie Stopes International.”
“With movement restricted as nations try to limit the spread of COVID-19, women using medication to end unwanted pregnancies becomes a viable option, said Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), a medical charity, and Marie Stopes International (MSI), a family planning organization, in a virtual media briefing. Before the pandemic, women and girls living in low-income countries and remote areas suffered from a lack of reproductive health services and have even less access under lockdown, they said. "At this moment in history, I think we have a really unique opportunity to revolutionize our approach to sexual and reproductive services, specifically contraception and safe abortion care," said Manisha Kumar, head of MSF's task force on safe abortion care. MSF also is known as Doctors Without Borders. Self-managed abortions, typically using a combination of the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol, do not require in-person visits to health care facilities and offer an option to women living in places where abortion is not readily available, they said….”
SRHR
HPW - Most Sexual & Reproductive Health Research Financing Comes From 3 Major Donors – And COVID-19 Could Further Shrink Funding
https://healthpolicy-watch.news/most-funding-for-sexual-and-reproductive-health-research-comes-from-3-major-donors-and-covid-19-could-further-shrink-funding/
“Funding for research into sexual and reproductive health issues, ranging from HIV/AIDs to pregnancy prevention,
comes from only three major donors, and the global recession caused by COVID-19 may shrink the funding landscape further.” Cfr. Nick Chapman, CEO of
Policy Cures Research, the group that produces the annual G-FINDER reports. “Looking to the future, not only are unprecedented funding levels being funneled towards COVID-19, but an impending global recession will undoubtedly have an impact on future development funding commitments and available funding to address other global health issues, like SRH,” added Chapman, in a
press release. The new
G-FINDER Sexual & Reproductive Health report released Thursday also found that
in 2018, US $1.4 billion of the US $1.7 billion invested in the area went towards HIV/AIDS research, dwarfing the paltry US $71 million that went towards all other sexually transmitted infection research worldwide….”
Malaria
BBC News - Malaria in Africa: Parasite 'resistant to artemisinin'
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53676702
Dire news from late last week. “
A drug-resistant strain of the parasite that causes malaria has been identified by scientists in Rwanda. The study, published in Nature, found the parasites were able to resist treatment by artemisinin - a frontline drug in the fight against the disease. This is the first time scientists have observed the resistance to the drug artemisinin in Africa. The researchers warns that this "would pose a major public health threat" in the continent….”
“It appears as though the resistance evolved in malaria parasites in Africa rather than spreading from South East Asia to the continent. The result, however, is the same - malaria is getting harder to treat….”
WHO (non-Covid related) updates
73rd World Health Assembly Decisions
https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/07-08-2020-73rd-world-health-assembly-decisions
“
The Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have adopted a number of decisions to advance global public health that had been proposed to the 73rd World Health Assembly in May 2020, via a "Written Silence Procedure". The proposals relate to: strengthening global immunization efforts; cervical cancer prevention and control; a global strategy for tuberculosis research and innovation; eye care - including preventing vision impairment and blindness; strengthening efforts on food safety, a global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property; a decade of healthy ageing; and influenza preparedness….”
WHO - New Science Council to be established
https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/06-08-2020-new-science-council-to-be-established
“
As a science-based institution, WHO is always striving to be at the forefront of scientific progress and its potential to improve health for all. A new WHO Science Council comprising international experts from a broad range of disciplines will support WHO in interpreting cutting-edge scientific and medical knowledge, as well as the latest advances in technology. The Science Division’s Research for Health department will facilitate the Council’s work in advising on WHO’s top science, research, and innovation priorities, focusing on areas of greatest urgency and identifying the biggest gaps in evidence. The Council’s recommendations will be given to the Director-General as part of an expansion of the scope of the science underpinning WHO’s public health work….”
UHC
WB (blog) - Taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages reduce health risks and expand fiscal space for Universal Health Coverage post-COVID 19
P Marquez et al; https://blogs.worldbank.org/health/taxes-tobacco-alcohol-and-sugar-sweetened-beverages-reduce-health-risks-and-expand-fiscal
“… Projections presented in a World Bank Group report for the G-20 meeting in Osaka, Japan in 2019 showed that the substantial UHC financing gap in low- and lower-middle-income countries (now exacerbated by COVID-19), can be attenuated by excise tax increases on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages. These calculations showed that a 50% increase in prices for these products could generate additional revenues of approximately $24.7 billion in 54 low- and middle-income countries by 2030. … …. These health tax increases would have the additional advantage of reducing future health care costs by curbing the growth of the non-communicable diseases that tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages can cause. Importantly, the revenue raised can additionally benefit poorer households when it is used progressively. Elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, which impose large fiscal costs while adding to negative environmental and health impacts, could also help expand fiscal space for health. …”
Deworming
NPR - Could Giving Kids A 50-Cent Pill Massively Boost Their Income Years Later?
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/08/13/898922003/could-giving-kids-a-50-cent-pill-massively-boost-their-income-years-later
Update on the ‘
deworming debate’. Insightful read of where things stand now.
Starting from this new study -
Twenty Year Economic Impacts of Deworming (by M Kremer et al)
“
It's one of the cheapest ways to help kids in extremely poor countries: Twice a year, give them a 50-cent pill to kill off nasty intestinal parasites. Now, a landmark study finds the benefits carry over long into adulthood — and the impact is massive. But dig deeper and the issue quickly becomes more complicated — and controversial….”
HSG 2020 updates
Some key papers & reports of the week
BMJ Global Health – 3 new papers from the HS Governance collaborative
Cfr a
Twitter thread by Seye Abimbola:
“Thread: three papers from the @governance_hs collaborative @WHO:
First is an interesting new take on the governance triangle. I call it the "triangle of persons" Reframed by @maryam_bigdeli et al to address hitherto "missing links" in governance” Health systems governance: the missing links “
“Second is a celebration of the newish empirical turn in health system governance /a move away to a broader understanding of governance as the people’s organisation of their collective action/ The inimitable @bmeessen calls it a "welcome reboot"” Health system governance: welcoming the reboot
“Third is an editorial in which I linked both papers and offer a "triangle of rules", because one triangle is not enough! /together with the ‘triangle of rules’, the health system governance ‘triangle of persons’ is more useful/” Health system governance: a triangle of rules ( Editorial by
S Abimbola)
Excerpt: “In
this edition of BMJ Global Health, Bigdeli et al offer a promising framework; a ‘triangle of persons’, if you will, to explore hitherto ‘missing links’ in health system governance. Each of the three nodes of this triangle is occupied by one category of persons, that is, policy-makers, providers and people. This triangle began its life in the 2004 World Development Report, as a map of stakeholders involved in accountability relations in the health system. It has gone through several iterations, interpretations and applications. However, the current ‘triangle of persons’ is particularly clear, detailed and succinct. It explores what happens between the nodes. And more than previous iterations, it also explores what happens within each node. In an accompanying paper, Meessen celebrates a welcome reboot in the discourse on and study of health system governance in global health; a reboot that: (1) de-emphasises normative preoccupations and instead emphasises empirical explorations of health system governance; (2) makes governance more concrete by redefining it in terms of ‘making, changing, monitoring and enforcing the formal and informal rules’2 that govern ‘collective action and decision making in a system’; and (3) shifts focus from governments as singular governing entities to a broader conception of who is involved in governance, by focusing on the rules that determine and emanate from the collective agency of constituted authorities and informal groups. In this editorial essay, I will connect both works with a ‘triangle of rules’. I will then use stylised accounts of experience and evidence to explain this ‘triangle of rules’, illustrate its application and the complementary advantage of using it alongside the ‘triangle of persons’. These stylised accounts point at potential middle-range theories and empirical explorations of even more ‘missing links’ in health system governance….”
Global Public Health - Public-private partnering as a modus operandi: Explaining the Gates Foundation’s approach to global health governance
M Stevenson & J Youde;
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17441692.2020.1801790
Great & informative paper.
“In its first decade, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) focused much of its efforts on enabling the establishment of transnational public-private partnerships (PPPs) oriented towards increasing low-income country (LIC) access to essential health technologies. Critics have argued these efforts further enriched already profitable firms which long ignored the needs of populations with limited purchasing power, while lessening political will to invest in urgently needed public sector capacity to produce essential health technologies independently of market pressures. Missing from these critical analyses were the perspectives of those shaping BMGF’s global health programming. Drawing on interviews with senior BMGF staff and external affiliates undertaken between 2010 and 2012, this article seeks to address this gap. We argue that BMGF’s embrace of PPPs was adopted out of the belief that neither public agencies nor industry were capable of providing LICs with essential health technologies autonomously, and that their conflicting mandates required an honest broker to initiate and sustain collaboration between the two sectors. The Foundation’s comparative advantage in global health governance was thus seen by those informing its work, as its capacity to negotiate such partnerships, which we argue has also been the basis of its agenda-setting influence in this domain.”
As mentioned, very informative paper. A fFew minor comments: some of the BMGF’s “comparative advantages” (like its long term time horizon, or ‘legitimacy via performance’ remind me of what’s often said about the Chinese government 😊).
As for “honest broker to resolve global health challenges”, well, let’s say the jury is still out on that one 😊. The article also offers an interesting take on FENSA.
In short: read it!
Medicus Mundi International – Network Health for All annual report 2019
https://www.medicusmundi.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MMI-Annual-Report-2019.pdf
Check it out.
International Journal of Health Services - The Health of Indigenous Populations in South Asia: A Critical Review in a Critical Time
C U Thresia, NS Prashanth et al;
https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/WQRD8ATNJVYPII9WUG2Q/full
“Despite South Asia’s promising social inclusion processes, staggering social and health inequalities leave indigenous populations largely excluded. Marginalization in the South Asian polity, unequal power relations, and poor policy responses deter Adivasi populations’ rights and opportunities for health gains and dignity. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is likely to result in a disproportionate share of infections and deaths among the Adivasis, given poor social conditions and exclusions. Poor health of indigenous people, inequalities between indigenous and non-indigenous groups, and failures in enforcing constitutional and legal provisions to reclaim indigenous land and cultural identity herald deeper structural and political fractures. This article unravels health inequalities between the Adivasis and non-Adivasi populations in their social context based on a critical review of secondary sources. We call for intersectoral policies and integrated health care services to address systemic inequalities, discrimination, power asymmetries, and consequent poor health outcomes. The current COVID-19 pandemic should be viewed as a window to pursue real change.”
Global Public Health - Travel restrictions as a disease control measure: Lessons from yellow fever
S Vanderslott et al;
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17441692.2020.1805786
“
Travel restrictions have become a common disease control measure during the 2019 Coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19). Measures have ranged from quarantines when entering a country to outright travel bans. Yet more widespread travel restrictions in the form of country vaccine entry requirements have been in place for a long time for another disease – yellow fever. We track the historical underpinnings and policy developments that have led to stringent vaccine entry requirements today. We also discuss the political issues raised by health measures imposed on borders and discuss the reasons behind some clear regional differences. Almost no European countries currently have vaccine entry requirements, while at the other end of the spectrum, the majority of countries in the African region do, making vaccine entry requirements a global south phenomenon. We argue that vaccine entry requirements should be reassessed in the future as an underused public health tool, likely to become increasingly common. Vaccine entry requirements have proved effective in controlling the international spread of yellow fever but more can be done to ensure better use of this measure. Caution is needed due to the close links between public health and politics, evident since the first travel restriction in quarantines.”
Human Resources for Health - How should community health workers in fragile contexts be supported: qualitative evidence from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Democratic Republic of Congo
J Raven, S Theobald et al;
https://human-resources-health.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12960-020-00494-8
“
Community health workers (CHWs) are critical players in fragile settings, where staff shortages are particularly acute, health indicators are poor and progress towards Universal Health Coverage is slow. Like other health workers, CHWs need support to contribute effectively to health programmes and promote health equity. Yet the evidence base of what kind of support works best is weak. We present evidence from three fragile settings—Sierra Leone, Liberia and Democratic Republic of Congo on managing CHWs, and synthesise recommendations for best approaches to support this critical cadre….”
JIAS (Commentary) - PEPFAR’s response to the convergence of the HIV and COVID‐19 pandemics in Sub‐Saharan Africa
R Golin et al ;
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jia2.25587
“
The COVID‐19 pandemic reached the African continent in less than three months from when the first cases were reported from mainland China. As COVID‐19 preparedness and response plans were rapidly instituted across sub‐Saharan Africa, many governments and donor organizations braced themselves for the unknown impact the COVID‐19 pandemic would have in under‐resourced settings with high burdens of PLHIV. The potential negative impact of COVID‐19 in these countries is uncertain, but is estimated to contribute both directly and indirectly to the morbidity and mortality of PLHIV, requiring countries to leverage existing HIV care systems to propel COVID‐19 responses, while safeguarding PLHIV and HIV programme gains. In anticipation of COVID‐19‐related disruptions, PEPFAR promptly established guidance to rapidly adapt HIV programmes to maintain essential HIV services while protecting recipients of care and staff from COVID‐19. This commentary reviews PEPFAR’s COVID‐19 technical guidance and provides country‐specific examples of programme adaptions in sub‐Saharan Africa.”
Jubilee Debt Campaign - Guide to understanding and accessing debt information
https://jubileedebt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Guide-to-debt_English_08.20.pdf
“This guide aims to help civil society organisations, journalists and interested citizens find and understand information on government debt. Accessing information is vital to be able to hold governments and lenders to account on what loans are taken out, on what terms and how the money is used.”
BMJ Global Health – Evaluating performance-based financing in low-income and middle-income countries: the need to look beyond average effect
P Binyaruka et al;
https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/8/e003136
“
Performance-based financing (PBF) is widely implemented despite limited available evidence on its effectiveness. There is a need to assess how PBF works in different contexts within and across settings in order to inform country-level decisions as to whether PBF may be a suitable health financing option and how it should be shaped to suit different contexts within a country. This commentary intends to inspire research looking beyond average programme effects into understanding heterogeneity in PBF programmes and their effects. As a starting point, we propose to document and analyse all potential sources of heterogeneity in PBF. We further provide initial guidance to conduct systematic analyses of heterogeneity of PBF by measuring and understanding differential effects and what drives or explains them.”
IJHPM - Populism and Health Policy in Latin America; Comment on “A Scoping Review of Populist Radical Right Parties’ Influence on Welfare Policy and its Implications for Population Health in Europe”
M Clark & A Patterson;
https://www.ijhpm.com/article_3888.html
“
This commentary focuses on Latin America, a region known for its rich variety of populist politicians and some of the most extensive welfare states in the Global South. Contemporary Latin America offers examples of left-wing and right-wing populist leaders, none of whom demonstrate the same focus on excluding immigrants from welfare state benefits as that noted by Chiari Rinaldi and Marleen Bekker in the European context. We see this contrast not because immigrants’ access to health services is less important in Latin America, but because Latin American populists are more focused on internal “enemies.” The commentary concludes with observations regarding Latin American populist leaders’ handling of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.”
Forum for Development studies (special issue) – Challenges in an era of new North-South divides. Research in the time of Covid-19
https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/sfds20/current
Start with the
Introduction -
Introduction: Research in the Time of Covid-19 (by S Jeppesen et al)
Plos Med Collection Review – Optimizing the East African Community’s Medicines Regulatory Harmonization initiative in 2020–2022: A Roadmap for the Future
https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003129
“
The East African Community (EAC)’s Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (MRH) initiative was created to improve access to quality, safe medicines in the region by simplifying the regulatory process while maintaining a high level of rigor. Building on lessons learned since its launch in 2012, the EAC MRH initiative has created a Roadmap for the Future….”
Check out also other
Plos Med articles from this Collection:
Eight years of the East African Community Medicines Regulatory Harmonization initiative: Implementation, progress, and lessons learned;
Coming together to improve access to medicines: The genesis of the East African Community’s Medicines Regulatory Harmonization initiative etc.
Some blogs and other mainstream news of the week
Open Democracy - Pan American Health Organization in Intensive Care
M G Palacios;
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/democraciaabierta/la-organizacion-panamericana-de-la-salud-en-cuidados-intensivos-en/
Recommended analysis. “
Will the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the highest health authority in the continent, suspend its operations? Or will it have to drastically reduce them? The future of PAHO will be decided very soon.”
Forbes - Journalists Need To Get It Right: Epidemiology Training Can Help
M Pai;
https://www.forbes.com/sites/madhukarpai/2020/08/09/journalists-need-to-get-it-right-epidemiology-training-can-help/#eec612566a24
“
Covid-19 has turned all journalists into health journalists. Covid-19 is the only major story in the news media today, and it is everyone’s beat now. Journalists are ‘Covidized’ like everyone else. Based on two recent online courses we offered to journalists in two continents, I suggest epidemiology training can help journalists get it right, and help fight misinformation….”
Medium - A How-To: reflections on planning virtual science conferences
J Lovato;
https://medium.com/@juniper.lovato/a-how-to-reflections-on-planning-virtual-science-conferences-eeb754ed404b
cfr
tweet Catherine Jones:
“
The most detailed, informative, honest post I have seen about organising virtual scientific conference. So many suggestions, experiences, and reflections here! “planning a virtual conference (if well done) is at the very least twice the work of planning a face-to-face event””
Devex - Will Chinese philanthropy for R&D continue to grow after COVID-19?
J L Ravelo;
https://www.devex.com/news/will-chinese-philanthropy-for-r-d-continue-to-grow-after-covid-19-97873
Update on the
current state of Chinese philanthropy. Well worth a read.
“
There’s been an increase in Chinese philanthropic giving to drug and vaccine research and development efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including from tech leaders such as Jack Ma, and Tik Tok’s Zhang Yiming. Some of the funding has gone to global institutions and initiatives….”
BMJ blog - There are two pandemics, but why do we keep forgetting the underlying one?
K Onarheim et al;
https://blogs.bmj.com/bmjgh/2020/08/07/there-are-two-pandemics-but-why-do-we-keep-forgetting-the-underlying-one/
In the words of Kent Buse (on Twitter), great blog by
K H Onarheim & U Gopinathan on the neglect of
#taxjustice by the global health research community.
Excerpt: “
Fair and equitable taxation at a national and global level is crucial to redistribute wealth and serves as an equaliser for health. Regrettably, our initial PubMed searches for publications on poverty, redistribution, tax and health (by titles and abstracts; 1990-2020; 2015-2020) expose a neglected research agenda. A search on “tax/”taxation”/”tax system”, “health” and “poverty” received 128 hits (73 last five years) and “tax/”taxation”/”tax system”, “health” and “restrib*” got 66 hits (24 last five years). ;.. … What could explain this lack of attention? Does it reflect health research’s preoccupation with biologic and medical individual-level risks rather than population-level policies? Or does it represent a form of ‘surrender,’ where redistribution and taxation are seen as policy responses far beyond the scope of the health sector? We believe it is unfitting for the medical and public health professions to diagnose a problem only to delegate to others the task of identifying and promoting the cures….”
Imperial and The George Institute for Global Health to drive sustainable global health systems
https://www.georgeinstitute.org.uk/news/imperial-and-the-george-institute-for-global-health-to-drive-sustainable-global-health-systems
“Imperial (College London) has established a new partnership with the George Institute for Global Health, focusing on the development and evaluation of innovative and sustainable global health systems….”
Passblue - The UN Development Goals Are ‘Seriously Off Track,’ an Expert Says
Passblue;
“
In conjunction with a high-level review of the goals, the authoritative United Nations Committee for Development Policy, an independent advisory group under the Economic and Social Council, issued a study recently, assessing how governments were self-reporting on their progress in 2019. The findings in the paper, “National Reports on the 2030 Agenda: What do they (not) reveal?” exposed some basic problems with governments’ interpretation and action on the goals. The study was launched and discussed virtually on Zoom at the New School in New York City by three leading global specialists on development: Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, professor of international affairs at the New School and deputy chairperson of the Committee for Development Policy; Barbara Adams, an economist and board chair of the Global Policy Forum, which monitors the work of the UN; and Roberto Bissio, coordinator of Social Watch International, which advocates to end poverty and discrimination….”
Quote: “
Excluded groups were often not addressed in country reports, Fukuda-Parr noted. “This is the third year in a row that we find that it’s mostly children, the disabled and the elderly who are identified [in reports] as groups that should not be left behind,” Fukuda-Parr said in the discussion. “Much less [emphasis] is given to refugees and migrants, also religious, ethnic, racial minorities, the poor and LGBTQ groups.” Gender equality is also not getting the attention it needs, she added, especially in the Covid-19 era, when women were bearing heavy burdens….”
New funding announcement - ReBUILD for Resilience
https://rebuildconsortium.com/rebuild-for-resilience/
“… ReBUILD for Resilience will build on the work started during the highly successful ReBUILD programme but will focus on a wider range of stressors in a wider range of contexts – fragile and shock-prone (FASP) settings. Over six years, in a collaboration involving partners in Lebanon, Myanmar, Nepal, Sierra Leone and the UK, the team will produce a body of high-quality, relevant, practical, scalable research which can be used to improve the health and lives of many millions of people. ReBUILD for Resilience is funded by a £7.68 million grant from the UK government’s Department for International Development….”
Tweets of the week
Seye Abimbola
“In the last 6 weeks, I've encountered 2 separate instances of researchers declining to be named as co-author on their own paper. Both instances from the same country. The researchers feared for their life. Their findings had put them at odds with their government.”
Claire Standley
Replied:
“Puts "publish or perish" into a new and chilling perspective.”
Adam Kamradt-Scott
“
The notion that reform of @WHO is even up to #G7 leaders to decide is flawed. They might express a view, but #WHO is an organisation comprising 194 Member States (& 193 if US withdrawal proceeds).”
Kent Buse
Tweeting on a
Guardian op-ed:
“‘
It is not just economic policies that have led to extreme #inequality, it is the normalisation of inequality and the gentrification of greed; the re-branding of robber barons as “philanthropists” and hard-working innovators.’”
Ben Phillips
“The UN Security Council has been briefed, by @nyuCIC ’s @sarah_cliffe, that inequality in access to Covid medicines and equipment, and the inequality that there is set to be in access to Covid vaccines, exacerbates threats to peace and stability.”
Alix
“I wasn’t ready to admit that too often impact measurement is middle class people demonstrating to rich people the worthiness of poor people to receive some small portion of the funds expropriated from them through colonialism and capitalism.”
Dr Tedros (at a media briefing)
“"Before spending another $10 trillion dollars on the consequences of the next #COVID19 wave, we estimate that the world will need to spend at least $100 billion on new tools, especially any new vaccines that are developed"- @DrTedros” “"The first & most immediate need is $31.3 billion, for the ACT Accelerator. It is the only up & running global initiative that brings together all the global R&D, manufacturing, regulatory, purchasing & procurement needed, for all the tools required, to stop #COVID19"” "IMF estimates the pandemic costs the global economy $375 billion a month, and predicts a cumulative loss to the global economy over 2 years of over $12 trillion.”