We Must Embrace Our Interconnectedness

From The Publisher Health AffairsVol. 40, No. 3: Nursing Homes, COVID-19 & More We Must Embrace Our InterconnectednessRabih Torbay AffiliationsRabih is president and CEO of Project HOPE, in Bethesda, Maryland.PUBLISHED:March 2021Free Accesshttps://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00014AboutSectionsView PDFPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsDownload Exhibits TOPICSPandemicsCOVID-19MortalityCoronavirusMaternal healthChildren's healthDiseasesGlobal healthPublic healthHealth professionalsAmong the many lessons come out coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, perhaps most enduring will be how interconnected it showed world be. No one has been left unaffected; all us know someone who had virus or have seen firsthand tragic toll can take. reminded that no live a bubble—that what happens anywhere affects us, everywhere. If we want rebuild from this pandemic move forward into stronger, more equitable world, cannot forget lesson. That interconnectedness—and empathy creates—will essential our ability forward. Rabih TorbayPhotograph by HOPEThe cost means are going see significant reversals much progress we’ve built over previous decades. Maternal infant mortality increasing while important gains made malaria reversing. health equity gap widening, world’s devastating crises, such as those Yemen, Venezuela, Lebanon, continued deteriorate away eye.It incumbent on global community marshal resources for common cause solving these reversing losses, reinstituting trust science so prepared next pandemic. do not learn continuing invest local care workers strengthening systems, then end up right back where now, learned vain.Fortunately, also shown power working together goal. transformative impact technology, especially when comes training equipping workers. What might look like forward? For at innovative thinking, approach, delivery. must expand partnerships with academic institutions, corporations, foundations, governments take work farther strengthen even around world.It localize aid building capacity regional organizations, establishing new ones, They ones front lines pandemic; respond disaster; called tackle greatest problems, maternal mortality. empower responders, reinstitute rather than rumors, promote facts false information.When passed, choice: either go way things were accept better. isolation, only looking after own interests, solve problems.If that—if ensure every country its equipped crises tuberculosis, HIV, mortality, disaster—then build system handle crisis test it. Loading Comments... Please enable JavaScript view comments powered Disqus. DetailsExhibitsReferencesRelated Article Metrics History Published online 1 March 2021 Information© HOPE—The People-to-People Foundation, Inc.