The Global Health Security Strategy defines the actions the US administration will take by adopting a whole-of-government approach to health security and leveraging the strengths of different federal departments, agencies and funding streams

Body:

Objectives:

• The United States government has come up with a first of its kind strategy to prevent, detect and respond to threats from infectious diseases occurring naturally or accidentally.
• An effort to help improve the world’s ability to stop and contain deadly outbreaks before they spread between countries.
• It defines the actions that US administration will undertake by adopting a whole-of-government approach to health security.

The strategy will pursue three interrelated goals:

• Strengthened capacity in developing nations to implement obligations under the International Health Regulations (2005)
• Increased international support for The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA)
• A Homeland prepared and resilient against global health threats.

Need:

• The increase in the number of infectious-diseases outbreaks (e.g., Ebola, Zika, and yellow fever) around the world and the risk posed by an accidental or deliberate release of dangerous pathogens highlight the need for a sustained, multi-sectoral, and coordinated
• Outbreaks can spread rapidly to jeopardize the health, security, and prosperity of all countries, including the United States.
• With this new Strategy, the United States reaffirms its steadfast support for building global and country-level health-security capacities so we are all better protected against existing and emerging infectious disease threats.
• The GHSS highlights the need for establishing preparedness and response capabilities that extend beyond a single country’s borders as well as the importance of incorporating a One Health approach when addressing existing and emerging biosecurity threats.

Conclusion:

The US Global Health Security Strategy outlines the continued evolution of the US governments’ involvement in the broader effort to establish and maintain global health security capacity to protect populations from an array of infectious disease and other health threats. While this document does not explicitly outline programs or allocate funding to global health or health security priorities, it will undoubtedly have an impact on global and domestic preparedness, detection, and response capabilities.