Monkeypox, Marburg and miserable heat: How the world should respond to intersecting crises

The World Health Organization’s recent declaration of monkeypox as a global health emergency underscores a disconcerting reality: The world is beset by interlocking and intersecting crises. Deadly heat waves are sweeping the globe, sparking wildfires and causing crop failure. Conflicts in the Horn of Africa, Afghanistan, Ukraine and elsewhere have led to a record 100 million people being forcibly displaced. The return of polio in a number of countries and the first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus in Ghana shows that disease threats continue to emerge against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is now fueled by omicron subvariants. 

© Provided by The HillMonkeypox, Marburg and miserable heat: How the world should respond to intersecting crises

These crises, and those looming on the horizon, are exposing the fragility of advances in human health and development. Crises shock global systems and roll back gains, with the world’s most vulnerable people bearing the brunt. Driving continued progress and preventing backsliding in the face of challenges requires thinking bigger and urgent action. But the problems can seem too enormous, numerous and widespread to tackle. 

So, where do we start? By investing in more resilient systems for health and prioritizing those investments even when resources are scarce, including in times of crisis.

Restoring advancement toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and future-proofing progress requires agile, collaborative, well-resourced and equitable systems for health that leave no one behind when crises inevitably strike. To do this, there are three key steps we should take as an international community.