So far, most countries in Africa are reporting comparatively low numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases, with a few countries accounting for most of the confirmed cases. But the impacts of food insecurity could end up being worse than the direct impacts of the health pandemic. The number of people experiencing acute food insecurity is expected to double to more than one-quarter of a billion people by end of 2020. And the World Bank estimates that between 26-39 million people in...
With the world facing devastating health and economic crises, global cooperation and solidarity are more important than ever. We are leading up to a crucial moment that will test European leaders’ commitment to these principles. Soon the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework will be negotiated, and EU leaders will decide how much the EU will invest in the future of our planet and its people for the next seven years. But what is the MFF? Here’s an explainer for you to...
Erin Stuckey is programme officer for polio eradication at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We interviewed them as part of our #PassTheMic campaign. Here’s some of what they had to say. We’ve seen the way that COVID has been going around the globe, and actions taken on the individual level and by a country definitely have a ripple effect. It’s scary to see that, but it’s heartening as well, as a reminder of the fact that we’re all connected...
Dr. Martin Dedicoat is a consultant in infectious diseases at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. We interviewed him as part of our #PassTheMic campaign. Here’s some of what he had to say. Learning from each other during this time is vital. A repository of information to show responses that have worked and those that haven’t would be useful. For example, in Medellin, Colombia, they’ve done something for people who come to hospital with symptoms of COVID, but are not ill enough to...
Dr. Jen Gardy is deputy director of surveillance, data, and epidemiology for the malaria team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We interviewed her as part of our #PassTheMic campaign. Here’s some of what she had to say. In medicine, it’s all about teamwork. What I’ve learned from being in the infectious disease and public health space for years is that nothing good happens without an amazing multidisciplinary team behind it. I’ve been lucky to participate in creating new ways...
Dr. Brahima Coulibaly is vice president and director of the Global Economy and Development programme at Brookings We interviewed him as part of our #PassTheMic campaign. Here’s some of what he had to say. When you have a global pandemic, the only effective way to tackle it is with a really global response. Because we can have victory in every country except one and we still have not succeeded. Until every country is safe, no country is safe. That is why...
Andy Slavitt is a senior advisor to the Bipartisan Policy Centre. We interviewed Andy as part of our #PassTheMic series. Here’s some of what he had to say. Up until now, we’ve all been dealing with shock and a lack of context at being able to respond to a situation that’s out of most people’s experience base. So there are all kinds of fears and adjustments that have had to happen. However, we have learned at this point in time that...
Jan Egeland is secretary general of the Norweigian Refugee Council. We interviewed him as part of our #PassTheMic series. Here’s some of what he had to say. There are currently 80 million people around the world who have been driven out of their homes by violence and conflict. The Norwegian Refugee Council is one of the frontline responders to refugees and displaced people, and we have to do more for this group now during the COVID-19 pandemic than we ever have...
Dr. Charlie Weller is head of vaccines at the global charitable foundation Wellcome. We interviewed her as part of our #PassTheMic series. Here’s some of what she had to say. With a disease like COVID-19, it doesn’t see borders. It doesn’t see different countries or types of people. In 2019, no one knew anything about COVID, so these types of diseases really need a global solution. We’re seeing the amazing progress that certain countries are making, like Australia and New Zealand,...
Professor Tim Spector is head of the department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London. We interviewed him as as part of our #PassTheMic series. Here’s some of what he had to say in the interview. A few months ago, we launched a symptom study app that has gained amazing traction. More than 3.2 million people have given us data in the UK and another half a million in the US and Sweden. This showed us there are...