Skip to Global Health Institute Full Site Menu Skip to main content
Georgetown University Logo

Global Health Institute

Global Health Forum

Global Health Forum

Reflecting on my experience at the CUGH conference, one general theme that affected much of the atmosphere of the conference stuck out most: the current U.S. role in global health. Given the new administration, much of the United States’ contribution to global health is up on the chopping block. This has created a general sense of weariness and uncertainty surrounding the future of U.S.-funded research and pilot programs, such as PEPFAR, NIH Fogarty Center, and the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). The panelists from the Global Health Security Agenda presentation underlined some of the additional challenges that programs like GHSA will face, such as the potentially waning leadership of the United States in global health and the fear of unsustained funding and commitments. Richard Horton, the editor-in-chief of The Lancet, also specifically made an effort to highlight the difficult times that we are in. His blunt yet accurate comments included mentioning Time Magazine’s “War on Science” cover page and questioning speakers on their broad generalizations. We are in an important time in which we should follow Richard Horton’s lead and question the decisions and statements made by global health leaders and politicians, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the current administration.

In the past, the United States had taken the lead in using health diplomacy as a tool in foreign affairs or in global health interactions in which public health issues help to serve diplomatic needs or diplomacy can help to serve public health needs. Public health has been used to facilitate positive diplomatic interaction by using the common technical language of health and by demonstrating the common interests that both parties have in promoting global and domestic health. With the current administration, though, it appears as though health diplomacy will not be as commonly used. Thus far, most diplomatic issues have been in relation to defense and security-related issues. If the global health field can successfully reframe global health issues in terms of global health security, the future loss of U.S. political and financial support for global health might be avoidable.

Despite this weariness surrounding the new administration and global health, optimism still held a large presence at the conference. One example of this optimism was Dr. Cesar Victora, whose lifetime of incredible work won him the Gairdner Award. With his mantra “think locally, act globally,” his work in Pelotas, Brazil about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life, child growth standards, and the importance of nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life have informed worldwide WHO guidelines. In spite of the uncertainty that lies ahead for the global health field, people like Dr. Victora are still making such positive change through their life-changing, breakthrough research.

Alex Kingston is an undergraduate majoring in science, technology, and international affairs at the Walsh School of Foreign Service.

Other Responses