Why We Must Unite for Health
The UN was founded 75 years ago to help the world work together for a healthier, safer, and fairer place. Not everyone has seen the same progress. COVID-19 highlights how health systems are unprepared and unequal around the globe. This is taking a toll on those who have been marginalized for decades and reverses decades of progress in Health and wellbeing.
- COVID-19 has disrupted the health systems of 90% of countries, especially in developing economies.
- The pandemic could cause more than 70 million people to fall into poverty — the first increase in 20 years.
- As a result of the impact on vital immunization programs, up to 80 million children could be at risk for diseases such as measles and diphtheria.
- In just 12 months, 12 years’ progress against Tuberculosis was undone.
- A year after the outbreak, 1.4 million unintended pregnancies have been reported.
Please donate today to #UniteforHealth so that we can all recover more quickly.
What can happen when we unite for Health?
We can defeat this pandemic by working across sectors and communities, leveraging science, and putting equity at the forefront of all we do.
When we Unite for Health, we:
- Ensure equitable accessibility to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines through collective solutions such as the ACT Accelerator. Advocate and adopt responsible, science-based policies and behaviors to keep us safe.
- Protect the progress we have already made.
- Strengthen Health systems at the community, national, and global levels to reach everyone fairly and equitably and ensure our global health security.
UNITE FOR THE HEALTH
Unite for Health unites people and partners from around the world to call for greater global collaboration and equity in healthcare. We also recognize international champions who are working to overcome new challenges, protect progress, and strengthen health systems for everyone. Find out about winners who #UniteforHealth.
HEALTH WORKERS ARE THE FIRST LINES OF DEFENSE AGAINST MALARIA UGANDA
In rural Uganda, health workers are often the last line of defense for protecting rural populations from malaria.
From Refugee to Frontline Hero
COVID-19 strains the health system of Iran, which hosts 1 million refugees. Moheyman Alkhatavi is a refugee nurse who is working around the clock for his host community to fight COVID-19.
ANH
Anh Nguyen, an emergency room doctor at Houston Methodist Hospital (one of the busiest Texas hospitals), is a busy physician.
Go Deeper
Find out more about:
- What is at stake for tomorrow if we do not invest today in stronger global healthcare systems?
- The ACT Accelerator Partnership ensures equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations, treatments, and tests.
- COVID-19 Impact on Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals