GHA France is one of the founding members of the ACTION partnership. Its mission is to carry out political advocacy in France and with EU institutions to ensure policies and resources are effectively addressing health inequalities. Fighting pandemics is at the very core of our action.
Combined, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis represent some of the leading causes of death due to infectious diseases in the world. Global Health Advocates carries out campaigns and advocacy initiatives to call for more investments in proven interventions to end AIDS, TB, and malaria by 2030.
Since the beginning of the global COVID-19 crisis, GHA has been heavily committed to demanding massive efforts to ensure global access to COVID-19 tools and resources (protective equipment, diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines). We fight for solidarity and cooperation to prevail over national interests as the COVID1-9 pandemic has revealed deep inequalities in terms of access to healthcare and rights.
Ahead of the G7 summit in June, GHA France brought together CSOs to meet with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, to discuss the role of France and the international community in accelerating efforts to achieve vaccine equity. Vaccination campaigns are accelerating in Europe and in the United States. At the same time, despite the vaccine being called a global public good, including by President Emmanuel Macron at the onset of the pandemic, it remains inaccessible to most of the global population. Stark inequalities are visible in vaccination rates – high-income countries have already fully or partially inoculated 40% of their population. In comparison, middle- and low-income countries only managed to distribute jabs to 7.7% and less than 1% respectively. If nothing is done, some developing countries will not have access to vaccines until 2024. The whole world is racing against time to contain the virus and the shortage of vaccines plunges a number of countries into a dramatic position. Ramping up production and improving equitable access to COVID-19 countermeasures requires unprecedented mobilization, such as the temporary lifting of patents, immediate dose sharing, and additional financial support to health systems and communities.
