ACCESS Health International participates in an UNGA 78 Side Meeting on Pandemic Preparedness

Dr. Krishna Reddy was recently invited to speak at a high-level side meeting of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 78) in New York.

The side meeting Actualizing a Whole-of-Society Approach in Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (PPPR) was co-organized by several prominent organizations, including the Center for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI), PHC Forum, Pandemic Action Network, The Global Public Investment Network, and Joep Lange Institute.

The meeting’s objectives were threefold: to shed light on opportunities and challenges associated with adopting a comprehensive whole-of-society approach for global PPPR, to explore new public norms emphasizing community-centered multilateralism, and to unite diverse stakeholders in promoting equitable and sustainable global health security governance.

Dr. Reddy spoke about the urgent need to identify and address the bottlenecks hindering the realization of a more inclusive global PPPR, particularly from the perspective of the Global South. He emphasized the importance of a family-like global perspective, where nations seek complementarity.  Dr. Reddy also highlighted evolving governance concepts and the critical role of private sector engagement. Finally, he advocated for strengthening financial management systems, south-south cooperation, and adaptive frugal innovations to bolster global health resilience.

The side meeting also featured a distinguished lineup of speakers including Ms. Diah S. Saminarsih, representing the Center for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI), who elaborated on the crucial role of civil society organizations in shaping the global health agenda. Ms. Priya Basu, from the Pandemic Fund/World Bank, provided a thought-provoking case study on leveraging investments from countries at varying income levels in global health governance through the Pandemic Fund. Dr. Caren Grown of the Brookings Institution shared her expertise in intentionally inclusive and gender-responsive PPPR strategies. Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, representing Amref Health Africa, discussed the convergence of climate strategies with PPPR, emphasizing the interconnection of these critical issues. Ms. Solange Baptiste, from the Global Public Investment Network (GPIN), underscored the significance of global public investment in building community resilience for responding to public health emergencies.