Healing Hands

Dear 2020, this year has brought about many challenges to the world. I hope this holiday season, Canadians celebrate the heroes and everyday people who are playing critical roles in the pandemic response and recovery. As we approach 2021, we should continue recognizing the essential workers and healthcare professionals. Words cannot express my gratitude to healthcare workers who have been working for months to treat people with COVID-19. Everyday they are directly exposed to the virus in their daily work environment. They are also influential to our healthcare systems in overcoming this pandemic.

That is why Canada must invest at least 1% of its COVID-19 response in new and additional aid towards an emergency global response to end the pandemic everywhere. Funds must go to global health agencies delivering on the ACT-Accelerator (ACT-A) to respond directly to the virus, as well as towards efforts to mitigate the secondary impacts of the crisis.

To date, the Health Systems connector from the ACT has surveyed over 100 countries to identify health system bottlenecks and capacity gaps and mapped the systems requirements for COVID-19 tool delivery in 4 out of the world’s 6 regions. By investing in the ACT-Accelerator this would ensure frontline healthcare workers everywhere have the necessary personal protective equipment and essential tools needed to deliver safe care.