Unitaid

Earlier this week at the World Health Summit 2024 in Berlin, I had the privilege of launching the Global Oxygen Strategic Framework and Investment Case on behalf of the Global Oxygen Alliance (GO₂AL), alongside Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund and co-chair of GO₂AL. GO₂AL, co-chaired by Unitaid and the Global Fund, is a collaboration of 20 leading global health organizations including Africa CDC, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and civil society groups. This ambitious call for US$ 4 billion for the next six years seeks to address the critical lack of medical oxygen in low- and middle-income countries, calling for all partners and national health systems to unite in tackling this urgent issue. Despite oxygen's essential role in treating conditions like pneumonia, severe tuberculosis, and supporting maternal and child health, millions still lack access to this life-saving intervention. The pandemic exposed the deadly consequences of oxygen shortages, and the crisis persists in many low-resource settings. The Global Oxygen Strategic Framework and Investment Case offers a clear roadmap for governments and global health partners to close these gaps. At Unitaid, we are driving innovation to secure sustainable oxygen access with technologies and models tailored to low-resource settings. Through collective action, we can build stronger health systems, save lives, and create a healthier, more resilient future for all. I want to thank all the partners of GO₂AL for their work and commitment to make this happens

ACT drug resistance is spreading in Africa, threatening gains in malaria control. Unitaid is investing $25M to accelerate the adoption of alternative treatments, but more donor support is needed to close funding gaps and prevent setbacks. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/e3ZxNhGA

A few days ago, I attended for the first time the World Health Summit in Berlin. 👉 Among other things, I had the privilege of representing Unitaid in a panel focused on "Regional Access, innovation and production of medicines and other health technologies", organized by Pan American Health Organization and Africa CDC. Unitaid has Regional Manufacturing as one of its Strategic Initiatives, and this work is brilliantly led by my colleagues Faith Mangwanya, Ademola Osigbesan and Robert Matiru. 👉 The importance of regional manufacturing of health products is broadly recognized now, and has been eloquently described during the discussion by my co-panelists Abebe Genetu Bayih, Judit R., Ethel Maciel, Hernan Ceballos, the European Commission and Rosemary Mburu. It is also exciting to see many concrete initiatives progressing across regions and countries. 👉 In the meeting, I described Unitaid's approach which encompasses multiple market dimensions of regional manufacturing - including intellectual property, technology transfer, procurement and market shaping, and regulation and quality systems. I also know from my colleagues the importance of taking a product-specific approach, which takes into account access needs and market specificities, and enables sustainable and competitive business models. 👉 Unitaid is currently expanding its portfolio of investments to support regional manufacturing, with a focus on promising product categories: HIV treatment, malaria ACTs, rapid diagnostic tests and PPH medicines. This latter category is part of our broader maternal health initiative Safe Birth Africa, implemented jointly with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with support from the European Commission. 👉 One reason I work closely with my Regional Manufacturing colleagues is that this initiative has strong links with our Climate and Health agenda. Regional manufacturing is a way to make health supply chains more resilient to climate risks. And making local production environmentally sustainable is not only the right thing to do, it can also improve the competitiveness and sustainability of these suppliers. 👉 Last but not least, this trip from Geneva to Berlin was the opportunity for me to check whether night trains can be conveniently used as a low carbon option for work travel. The short answer is: yes, absolutely! It had been decades since my last trip on a night train, and I had forgotten how comfortable they are, and how magic it is to wake up in the middle of a new landscape. Special nod to Sabine Stock and OBB's night trains! Duneton Philippe Tenu Avafia Julien Pouille Stéphanie Mariat Kerstin Kolbe, MPP Kenny Onasanya MCIPS, SCMP, RegPracProc Matthew Lindley Maria Neira

The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Global Fund) and Unitaid urgently call on bilateral and multilateral donors, philanthropic foundations, and the private sector to join us in heeding the call from malaria endemic countries to make existing alternative ACTs available and affordable. The time to act is now. https://lnkd.in/e3ZxNhGA

Maternal mortality is preventable. Minister of Health of Sierra Leone, Dr Austin H. Demby, highlights how Unitaid's report on pre-eclampsia will help low- and middle-income countries identify high-priority solutions for maternal care. Learn how global efforts can save lives: https://lnkd.in/eEf3ta5g

Tuberculosis is curable, yet millions still lack access to life-saving tools. Our new report calls for urgent action to invest in innovation and equity to #EndTB. Read more: bit.ly/TBRandDReport

Unitaid’s new call for proposals seeks projects that optimize delivery of post-discharge malaria chemoprevention to children with severe anemia. Let’s work together to reduce preventable deaths. Submit your ideas by 4 November 2024: https://lnkd.in/dkSe4E83

As part of Unitaid’s mission to support and accelerate the introduction of innovative tests, tools and treatments to address major global health challenges, Unitaid is prepared to invest immediately and collaborate to fast-track access to lenacapavir. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ebtd8KRK

Unitaid’s focus on regional manufacturing is improving healthcare resilience. By supporting local production of medical oxygen, we’re building sustainable health systems that can respond to emergencies and provide routine care for women and children. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eQ9sPS6T

Unitaid recherche des idées audacieuses et innovantes pour améliorer l'accès à l'oxygène médical dans les milieux à faibles ressources. Chercheurs, organisations de santé et entreprises peuvent soumettre leurs propositions avant le 22 novembre 2024 ici : https://lnkd.in/e7js9eNn