The World Bank has teamed up with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria to fortify health systems in the global south against the effects of climate change.
The two signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday “to support more efficient, effective, and sustainable financing to improve health outcomes in the face of climate change.”
Why it matters: The World Bank estimates that 132 million people may be forced into extreme poverty by 2030 due to climate change; one-third are the result of climate-related health risks disproportionately affecting the poorest and most vulnerable.
Latest estimates also show that more than half of the global population is not fully covered by essential health services and the climate crisis will only increase the demand for such services.
What they’re saying: “We cannot make adequate progress on public health while rising temperatures change the patterns of infectious diseases and breed pandemics,” World Bank President Ajay Banga said in a press release. “Our only option is to respond aggressively, simultaneously, and comprehensively.”
The specifics: The two organizations will work together on climate and health priorities to reduce malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis via stronger health systems, including better access to primary health care services for the most vulnerable.
They will also advocate for increased financing to make better use of scarce domestic and international health resources, including through better public finance management in countries. In addition, they will use various financing mechanisms, such as joint investments and blended finance, and collaborate on joint investments.
Another focus area is bolstering the regional production and procurement of health supplies, such as drugs and medical devices. The World Bank and Global Fund will help localize health supply chains by supporting sustainable manufacturing in Africa and low- and middle-income countries.
The endgame: “To stand a chance at achieving the targets of ending AIDS, TB and malaria, we must redouble our efforts to fight these diseases. That includes investing to build health systems that can withstand the effects of climate change,” Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands said in the release. “With malaria serving as an early tracer of the impact of climate on health, we need intensive interventions and strong partnerships to reverse the negative impact of climate change on health.”
Anna Gawel is the Managing Editor of Devex. She previously worked as the managing editor of The Washington Diplomat, the flagship publication of D.C.’s diplomatic community.
