Director of the Centre for Global Emergency Care at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Bhakti Hansoti, has underscored the crucial role of preparedness and health system investment in enhancing both local and global health security.
She emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the interconnectedness of global health and the necessity for resilient health systems.
During her lecture titled “The Global Health Security: Implications for LMICs” at the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Dr. Hansoti stressed the importance of building resilient health systems informed by determinants of health to strengthen defenses against future threats.
Global health security, as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, involves countries possessing robust public health systems capable of preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious disease threats globally.
“Was not just a global health emergency, but a demonstration that there is no health security without a resilient health system”.
“If we build resilient health systems and a health system that is informed by these determinants of health, we can be strengthened against future threats,” she added.
Dr. Hansoti points out contemporary global health security risks such as the emergence of infectious diseases, the globalization of travel and trade, drug-resistant pathogens, and potential threats from the accidental release or misuse of dangerous pathogens.
The lecture emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts, ethical responses, and robust global health security measures to address current and future challenges.
Dr. Hansoti advocated for intersectoral collaboration, communication, and investment, urging countries to actively participate in shaping future response activities and treaties like the pandemic treaty.
Reflecting on past experiences, such as Ebola, COVID-19, and HIV, Dr. Hansoti encourages learning from successes, challenges, and community engagement.
Head of the Global Health Department, Dr. John Amuasi, applauded the importance of the lecture in broadening students’ perspectives on global health security.
Students express gratitude for the insights gained, recognizing the critical link between health security and resilient health systems.
Dr. Joseph Bonney, president of the African Federation for Emergency Medicine, highlights the significance of building capacity in hospitals and training programs to contribute to a robust ecosystem for global health security.