Lab Matters Winter 2019 | Page 20

GLOBAL HEALTH A Global Priority: Promoting Health Security through GHSA 2024 By Robyn Sagal, MPH, specialist, Global Health Since its inception in 2014, the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) has maintained its vision of a world safe and secure from infectious disease threats. GHSA provides a forum for nations to make commitments and promote health security as a global priority. Over the past five years, member nations, multilateral and international organizations, and civil society have worked together to improve the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) through specific GHSA objectives. These objectives were identified in the initial 11 Action Packages focused on prevention, detection and response to human and animal infectious diseases. To renew commitment to global health security and launch the new GHSA 2024 Framework, the Government of Indonesia convened the 5th GHSA Ministerial Meeting: “Advancing Global Partnerships” in November 2018. APHL staff were in attendance with approximately 40 country representatives and other international delegates. In addition to launching the Framework, this meeting allowed participants to celebrate achievements, share experiences, address challenges, improve collaboration and transition to GHSA 2024 targets. Although the main focus of the meeting was improving collaboration, best practices in the development and costing of national action plans on health security (NAPHS) were also discussed. Countries that have secured funding and made progress toward their NAPHS were given the opportunity to share their experiences in order to help other countries move forward. The GHSA 2024 Framework demonstrates a renewed commitment to global health security efforts with enhancements in structure, clarification of responsibilities and updated priorities for the initiative. It sets an ambitious target for more 18 LAB MATTERS Winter 2019 than 100 countries to undergo health security capacity evaluation, national action planning, resource mobilization and implementation of health security activities by the end of 2024. Each country will also improve in at least five technical areas as measured by assessments. When countries are planning for global health security, they can volunteer to participate in an evaluation using the World Health Organization Joint External Evaluation (JEE) tool to gain more information about gaps within their health system. Evaluation results provide critical information used to guide GHSA efforts. To date, there have been 91 JEEs conducted with many more planned for 2019. GHSA has grown from 29 member- countries to 65 member-countries, multilateral organizations and non-governmental stakeholders. As membership grows, so do opportunities for resource sharing, enabling countries to collaboratively address challenges that impact progress toward GHSA targets. Over the next five years, GHSA stakeholders will work together to implement activities in accordance with the new action packages so that they may reduce gaps identified in the assessments and continue to make progress toward GHSA 2024. n [From L to R]: Lucy Maryogo-Robinson, Robyn Sagal, Sherrie Staley and Samantha Dittrich at the 5th GHSA Ministerial Meeting: “Advancing Global Partnerships” in November 2018 GHSA 2024 – What’s New • Inclusive of multilateral organizations and non-governmental stakeholders • Rotating steering group members • Secretariat function established to support administration of GHSA • Focus on eight Action Packages instead of all 11 • Task Forces created for further outreach and engagement, advocacy and communication, accountability and results, and Action Package coordination • Accountability and Results Framework to track/measure commitments, progress, and impact • Biennial ministerial meetings DIGITAL EXTRAS: • Five-year roadmap with annual review/ update • Additional Details (“Proposals”) for GHSA 2024 Task Forces • Terms of Reference for Steering Group, Action Packages, Task Forces • Action Package Renewal – 2019 Action Packages • The Bali Declaration on the Global Health Security Agenda • The JEE Alliance PublicHealthLabs @APHL APHL.org