News – Page 8 – Duke Global Health Innovation Center

09Mar 2023 by Melissa Slogan

UN High Level Pandemic Meeting Should Be Only the Beginning

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The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. March 9, 2023 By Nellie Bristol While negotiations continue at the World Health Organization (WHO) on a new pandemic accord and amendments to the International Health Regulations, plans also are evolving toward a UN high level meeting September 20 aimed at compelling health emergency preparedness to the top levels of government. While the meeting is critical to refocusing the world’s attention, establishing a mechanism to sustain long term political support is essential to successfully countering future threats. The High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPR) was called for in a UN resolution last year. Representatives for Israel and Morocco, who are co- facilitating the meeting’s preparatory process, set out a broad agenda in recently released document as well as scheduling a hearing in May to get input from non-governmental…

01Mar 2023 by Melissa Slogan

COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 21

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March 1, 2023: COVID GAP Accountability Report Issue 21 Key Changes and Insights Since Previous Report: The Pandemic Fund closed their call for expressions of interest on February 24th. The first call for proposals is expected to be announced in early March and applicants will have 11 weeks to submit proposals. The Governing Board plans to make funding decisions in July 2023. The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board has released a document outlining 3 tests to ensure the success of key pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response reforms. The fourth meeting of the WHO Intergovernmental Negotiating Body will run from February 27th to March 3rd. Discussion will focus on the zero draft of the Pandemic Treaty. Dr. Jean Kaseya has been selected as the first Director General of the Africa Centers for…

23Feb 2023 by Melissa Slogan

African Leaders Commit to Tackling Pandemic Fueled Routine Immunization Deficits

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The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. February 23, 2023 By Nellie Bristol In the face of falling routine immunization rates and recent spikes in some vaccine preventable diseases, African leaders pledged this week to “reignite the political will” to prioritize universal access to immunization through a declaration endorsed by African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government February 19. The declaration, entitled “Building Momentum for Routine Immunization Recovery in Africa,” commits governments to increasing and sustaining domestic investments in vaccines as well as addressing bottlenecks in vaccine delivery and improving disease surveillance. It invites African development banks, regional economic communities, and regional health organizations to increase resource mobilization and manufacturers to facilitate affordable access to vaccines and support technology transfer to African companies. It calls for an AU/World Health…

16Feb 2023 by Melissa Slogan

COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 20

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February 16, 2023: COVID GAP Accountability Report Issue 20 Key Changes and Insights Since Previous Report: The Pandemic Fund Governing Board has approved $300 million in financing for the first round of funding. The first round will prioritize projects that focus on strengthening disease surveillance and early warning laboratory systems, and health workforce capacity. The WHO has released the zero draft of pandemic treaty (WHO CA+) which will be discussed in Geneva from Feb. 27 to March 3. The draft does not include any mechanism for independent accountability and oversight mechanisms are set to be discussed at the first meeting of the governing body. Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate has been selected as GAVI’s next CEO. The Global Fund has awarded an additional $320 million in funding towards pandemic preparedness and…

10Feb 2023 by Melissa Slogan

Fatal Lack of Oxygen During Pandemic Peaks Spurs Action to End Enduring Shortages

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The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. February 10, 2023 By Nellie Bristol Access to medical oxygen literally has been a matter of life and death during COVID-19 peaks and shortages have had devastating effects in many countries around the world. While specific data are difficult to come by, one study showed that vast under-resourcing in intensive care units in ten African countries contributed to high mortality rates, with one in two patients dying without receiving oxygen. In Peru, which reported the highest per capita COVID-19 death rates in the world, at least 11 Lima hospitals reported shortages, people stood in long lines for bottled oxygen, and price gouging was rampant. In addition to its importance during the pandemic, medical oxygen is critical to treatment of struggling newborns, those with pneumonia, and a variety of…

02Feb 2023 by Melissa Slogan

COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 19

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February 2, 2023: COVID GAP Accountability Report Issue 19 Key Changes and Insights Since Previous Report: Chad is reporting a 0.30% daily vaccination rate (28-day average) which is an increase from 0.00% in the previous report. Chad is reporting 100% vaccination coverage of the 60+ population, which is an increase from 78.37% two weeks ago. Tanzania is reporting that 68.77% of the healthcare worker population has been vaccinated which is an increase from 40.73%. Tanzania is also reporting 100% vaccination coverage of the 60+ population, an increase from 9.90% in the previous report. Uganda is reporting that 100% of the 60+ population has been vaccinated, an increase from 36.19% in the previous report. The number of booster doses administered per 100 people has increased slowly across all income levels as follows:…

25Jan 2023 by Melissa Slogan

Communicators Require New Approaches to Build Trust in Science and Public Health

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The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. January 25, 2023 By Nellie Bristol Public health communicators need to change their approaches to ensure that those hesitant about vaccines “will adopt the desirable behavior and feel good about it,” said Michelle Williams, dean of faculty and professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She appeared with other panelists January 18 at a World Economic Forum (WEF) roundtable on the State of the Pandemic. “The worst thing we did in the U.S. was when people expressed hesitancy or curiosity, we basically said to them, ‘follow the science.’ And that’s the absolute wrong thing to do,” Williams said. Instead, communicators need to “take the approach of meeting them where they are,” help them understand the risks and the benefits, and…

19Jan 2023 by Melissa Slogan

COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 18

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January 19, 2023: COVID GAP Accountability Report Issue 18 Key Changes and Insights Since Previous Report: The number of booster doses administered per 100 people has increased across all income levels as follows: High income increased to 47.31 from 47.21 Upper middle income increased to 24.64 from 24.46 Lower middle income increased to 17.55 from 17.36 Low income increased to 3.29 from 2.98 Nigeria is reporting 71.01% vaccination coverage of the 60+ population, which is an increase from 65.98% two weeks ago. South Sudan is reporting 53.95% vaccination coverage of the 60+ population, which is an increase from 51% two weeks ago. Sierra Leone is reporting a 0.27% daily vaccination rate (28-day average), an increase from 0.18% in the previous report. Malawi is reporting a 0.08% daily vaccination rate (28-day average),…

12Jan 2023 by Melissa Slogan

High Level Health Emergency Council Proposed for WHO Executive Board Review

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The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. January 12, 2023 By Nellie Bristol As health security improvement efforts continue at all governmental levels, World Health Organization (WHO) is advancing ten proposals aimed at strengthening its role and effectiveness in health emergency preparedness and response. Originally introduced informally at last year’s World Health Assembly, the proposals are on the agenda for the WHO Executive Board (EB) meeting scheduled for late this month. Suggestions range from establishment of a Global Health Emergency Council, to improving national preparedness assessments, to increasing WHO funding to rapidly scale up response capacities. WHO leadership is asking the EB to note the report, provide guidance on how to work with Member States to move the proposals forward, and to identify any gaps. The proposed council is intended to ensure sustained high…

05Jan 2023 by Melissa Slogan

COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 17

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January 5, 2023: COVID GAP Accountability Report Issue 17 Key Changes and Insights Since Previous Report: China has rolled back its zero-COVID policies, and there is a lack of accurate data available regarding COVID deaths or circulating variants. Airfinity’s model predicts there will be 1.7 million deaths by the end of April 2023. Amidst the COVID-19 surge in China, several countries have implemented travel requirements for travelers coming from China. The U.S. and U.K. are requiring pre-flight COVID tests while Morocco is implementing a full entry ban. Singapore announced a pledge of USD $1 million to the Global Fund. Nigeria is reporting 65.98% vaccination coverage of their 60+ population which is an increase from 56.49% two weeks ago. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is reporting 81.92% vaccination coverage of their…