Oct. 24, 2024

All about the Annual Meetings.

• Go big on IDA! The week started with a spotlight on IDA, representing the largest source of grants and low-cost loans for the world’s 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. The Rockefeller Foundation’s Eric Pelofsky and Julia Frifield put it simply, “IDA is a crucial lifeline” and delivers catalytic value. Aligned with the Abidjan Accord, PAN, RANA, and partners went into the Annual Meetings with a clear call to action to African Ministers and IDA shareholders: “Seize the opportunity… advance an IDA21 that works for Africa!” This week’s IDA Forum highlighted the importance of a historic replenishment, sharing the draft IDA21 policy framework designed to deliver “results with speed and at scale” that included an important indicator on pandemic preparedness. Forum moderator Dr. Eugene Cho called for US$120 billion for IDA with the “best possible terms.” 💥 Quick post.
• Shadow of debt. The world’s Finance Ministers are gathering as the IMF World Economic Outlook forecasts global growth at 3.2% but global public debt is expected to exceed US$100 trillion — what the IMF calls “worse than it looks.” What is the solution? Likely lots of talk and tweaks around the edges, according to ONE’s David McNair. In the near term, G20 Finance Ministers are expected to approve the G20 MDG roadmap today. We’ll be watching.
• What’s new?
  • The World Bank launched the Global Challenge Programs (GCP) to address key development challenges. As a part of the Better Bank Initiatives, there are six GCPs structured around clear cross-cutting global development objectives that align with the World Bank Group Scorecard: (1) Forests for Development, Climate, and Biodiversity; (2) Energy Access and Transition; (3) Accelerating Digitalization; (4) Food and Nutrition Security; (5) Enhanced Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (6) Fast-Track Water Security and Climate Adaptation.
  • The G20 Taskforce on a Global Mobilization Against Climate Change, co-chaired by Vera Songwe and Maria Mazzucato released its final report A Green and Just Planet, calling for urgent action to chart a new path for economic development that reconciles growth with ambitious climate action. 
  • The World Bank’s gender working group launched a gender declaration to advance improved female representation at the board level. The goal: 40%-50% representation of female executive directors and alternate executive directors.

Post of the Week

Notable News

• Situation report. California confirmed a total of 13 human H5N1 cases on Oct. 18. The U.S. CDC’s genomic sequencing of six Californian cases suggests animal-to-human disease spread. Washington state is also investigating four potential human H5N1 in poultry farm workers who experienced mild respiratory symptoms and conjunctivitis after culling infected chickens. Meanwhile, California’s infected dairy herd count reached 133 — approximately 12% of California’s herds — on Oct. 22. National totals are at 340 infected herds in 14 states. Elsewhere, France and the U.K. increased their H5N1 risk levels due to avian flu cases in migratory birds.   
• Bumps in the vaccination rollout. Africa CDC’s Dr. Jean Kaseya underscored that the mpox situation is “not under control” as the disease continues to spread and response efforts are slower than expected. Despite pre-campaign public awareness efforts, the targeted areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are reporting vaccine hesitancy, which may ultimately contribute to an extension of the 10-day campaign. The Africa Infodemic Response Alliance’s weekly reports support on-the-ground findings and note growing skepticism and government distrust reinforcing vaccine hesitancy. Still, progress is being made in the DRC with over 20,000 people vaccinated in three provinces as of Oct. 17. Rwanda understandably halted vaccination efforts from Oct. 12-16 due to the concurrent Marburg outbreak; the campaign has since resumed. Africa CDC also noted during the briefing that Nigeria is expected to roll out vaccinations beginning Oct. 22. 
• No silver bullets. Africa CDC’s Nicaise Ndembi and Salim Abdool Karim underscore what we know — but often forget — during a response: vaccines are only part of the strategy. This is especially important in the light of the Uganda prison-based mpox outbreaks where non-vaccine interventions, such as WASH infrastructure, infection prevention and control, and more rapid identification and isolation of cases, could slow the spread of diseases. At the same time, the recent identification of drug-resistant mpox cases in U.S. underscores the need for continued R&D investments to ensure the world is as prepared as possible to respond to current and future outbreaks. 
• Action required!
  • 💥 Read and share our new PLOS Global Public Health article submitted in partnership with the Independent Panel, RANA, Spark Street, and other key opinion leaders and experts. While progress has been made to address the mpox emergency since article submission, much remains to be done as mpox continues to spread. Neglect is at the root of the mpox crisis and that neglect must be stopped in its tracks.
  • 💥 Read and share our latest priority recommendation based on analysis of current mpox trackers.

• Situation report. California confirmed a total of 13 human H5N1 cases on Oct. 18. The U.S. CDC’s genomic sequencing of six Californian cases suggests animal-to-human disease spread. Washington state is also investigating four potential human H5N1 in poultry farm workers who experienced mild respiratory symptoms and conjunctivitis after culling infected chickens. Meanwhile, California’s infected dairy herd count reached 133 — approximately 12% of California’s herds — on Oct. 22. National totals are at 334 infected herds in 14 states. Elsewhere, France and the U.K. increased their H5N1 risk levels due to avian flu cases in migratory birds.     
• “We have regressed.” The Californian dairy cow outbreak mortality rate appears to be higher than expected, and the situation seems dire. The LA Times painted a dark picture with “piles of dead cattle” and farm workers working with unreported symptoms. California is now racing to address the situation while also vaccinating vulnerable farm workers against the seasonal flu — which could lead to a reassortment virus — and looking into outbreak origins. California’s backfoot approach is not unique: Vanity Fair’s exposé chronicles just how poorly the U.S. has handled the H5N1 outbreak from the start. Rather than prioritizing animal and human health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave more weight to industry trade and profits while effectively muzzling early alarms that could have changed the course of the response. The lack of transparency and emphasis on profits over health prompted one health official to say, “Not only have we not learned [from COVID], we have regressed.”

Network News

• Neil Vora shares how zombies 🧟 and vampires 🧛🏼‍♂️ help him make sense of health disasters and stay focused on progress. 
• Al Jazeera spoke to the UN Foundation’s Dr. Ahmed Ogwell regarding the current state of healthcare, global infection and disease risks, and what lessons, if any, the world learned from COVID-19. 
• Thelma Chioma Thomas-Abeku underscores health security as a critical component of Africa’s future and calls for New Public Health Order investments in allAfrica.  
• In a Devex oped, Bright Simons says that the global health financing replenishments model is no longer enough to meet growing needs.
• Charles Ebikeme examines how the mpox response has learned from history as part of the Innovations In: Solutions for Health Equity series.
• UK Health Alliance on Climate Change’s Elaine Mulcahy and Richard Smith call for more action and less stalling at COP29. 

Events

Dates to Watch

• Oct. 21-26: IMF - World Bank Group Annual Meetings (Washington, D.C.)
• Oct. 29-30: G20 Health Working Group Meeting (Rio de Janeiro)
• Oct. 31: G20 Finance & Health Minister Meeting (Rio de Janeiro)
• Oct. 31: Pandemic Fund Replenishment (Rio de Janeiro)
• Nov. 4-15: INB12 (Geneva)
• Nov. 11-12: Paris Peace Forum (Paris)
• Nov 11-24: COP29 (Baku)
• Nov 18-19: G20 Leaders’ Summit (Rio de Janeiro)

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