At the World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany, USAID and the Global Financing Facility (GFF), a multi-donor trust fund at the World Bank, have reaffirmed their strategic partnership.
They announced a collaborative effort to enhance primary health care (PHC) systems and bolster health workforces, with an initial USAID investment of $4 million into the GFF.
This investment establishes a trust fund focused on strengthening PHC systems, capable of effectively responding to outbreaks and pandemics in GFF partner countries.
This initiative aims to empower health workforces to prevent, prepare for, detect, and respond to global health threats.
The COVID-19 pandemic had severe impacts on healthcare systems, causing delays in non-COVID care, particularly affecting the health of women, children, and adolescents.
Globally, communities are still grappling with the consequences of COVID-19 and other health emergencies, including healthcare worker shortages, with 84 percent of countries reporting ongoing disruptions in essential services.
Some estimates suggest that the indirect effects of COVID-19 increased maternal mortality by over 33 percent and child mortality by nearly 50 percent in low- and middle-income countries.
The Global Financing Facility (GFF) is a global partnership committed to ensuring the survival and well-being of women, children, and adolescents. Launched in July 2015, the GFF supports 36 low and lower-middle-income countries with financing and technical assistance to develop and implement national health plans that provide affordable, quality care for women, children, and adolescents.
The GFF also collaborates with countries to maximize domestic and external support for better, more sustainable health outcomes.
The partnership between USAID and the GFF aims to enhance governments’ capacity to mobilize support from partners, align investments with national priorities, and strengthen primary health care systems capable of responding to epidemics.
