August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010

OF NOTE THIS WEEK

On Monday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave remarks on the next phase of the $63 billion Global Health Initiative (GHI). In her speech, Sec. Clinton defined the GHI as "a new approach, informed by new thinking and aimed at a new goal: To save the greatest possible number of lives, both by increasing our existing health programs and by building upon them to help countries develop their own capacity to improve the health of their own people". The successes of existing health programs, like PEPFAR, will continue under the GHI. "Its funding will increase, its impact will increase, and its prevention strategies will become more comprehensive", Clinton stated.

However, while Clinton's speech focused on what the GHI is, there was little mention on how it would actually be implemented. Politics Daily described the speech as a branding exercise an attempt to "populariz[e] and contextualiz[e] the massive project". In her blog post, Nandini Oomman echoes this sentiment, questioning how the GHI will actually be implemented and measured for success. She also outlines her "wish list" of key action items the GHI team should consider going forward.

NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DONORS

  • As part of its Emerging Issues in Today's HIV Response debate series, the World Bank will host the third debate next week on "Discordant Couples and HIV Transmission"
  • Congressional Research Service released a report entitled "The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria: U.S. Contributions and Issues for Congress
  • The WHO is holding an on-line consultation to solicit views on the development of the Global Health Sector Strategy for HIV/AIDS 2011-2015. The last day to submit comments is August 31. To participate in the conference, see here

OTHER NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

RECENT CGD HEALTH POLICY BLOGS

HIV/AIDS MONITOR RECOMMENDATIONS AND POLICY IMPACT

  • The HIV/AIDS Monitor has been tracking the policy changes among PEPFAR, the Global Fund and the World Bank MAP related to the recommendations that have come out of our research. Explore these changes using our interactive flash tool.