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
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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
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