In September 2021, FGFJ organized a series of online and in-person meetings for Dr. Osamu (Sam) Kunii, Head of the Strategy, Investment and Impact for the Global Fund, who spoke with Diet members, ministry officials, researchers, and business and NGO leaders in Japan to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the AIDS, TB and malaria fights, and the roles of the Global Fund in the fight against global pandemics.
As part of that series, FGFJ organized a joint meeting of the FGFJ Diet Task Force (the 33rd session) and the FGFJ Advisory Board on September 15, where Dr. Kunii spoke with five Diet members and 15 Advisory Board members. The discussions covered the Global Fund’s latest Results Report, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the three major infectious diseases and the crucial roles of the international community and the leadership of governments.
Particular emphasis was placed on the Global Fund’s strong roles in building resilient and sustainable systems for health (RSSH), which was fully leveraged for the COVID-19 response in each country. The Global Fund invests US$1 billion yearly in health system strengthening, which is the most by any international organization. In this meeting, Dr. Kunii introduced the latest examples of RSSH, especially in health information management systems, health human resource development, supply chain, and community measures.
He also discussed the role of the Global Fund in the urgent issues of health security, and pandemic preparedness and response (PPR). Dr. Kunii reported that the Global Fund was discussing exactly what kind of preparedness and response would be needed, based on the lessons learned and various country requests the Global Fund has received during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Global Fund will continue to be a leading international organization in supporting the fight against COVID-19, with a funding target of $10 billion (approximately ¥1.11 trillion) by the end of 2021. It was a critical opportunity to inform key policymakers about the important role that Japan can play and how it can be a part of the global solution.
*Boyce et. al ‘Global Fund contributions to health security in ten countries, 2014–20: mapping synergies between vertical disease programmes and capacities for preventing, detecting, and responding to public health emergencies’, Lancet Global Health, 2021
The FGFJ Diet Task Force is a multi-party initiative that brings together Diet members to examine ways to broaden Japan’s international role in combating the global threats of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other communicable diseases. The task force convenes several times a year with experts and leaders from around the world. For more information, visit the FGFJ Diet Task Force page.
