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Canada’s role in strengthening global health security during the COVID-19 pandemic
(Biomed Central (Springer Nature), 2020) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Adisesh, Anil; Yaya, Sanni
The world is confronted by the current pandemic of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19), which is a wake-up call for all nations irrespective of their development status or geographical location. Since the start of the century we have seen five big infectious outbreaks which proved that epidemics are no more regarded as historic and geographically confined threats. The Canadian government underlined that these infectious disease outbreaks are threats to global health security and disrupt societal wellbeing and development. In this context, the Public Health Agency of Canada is proactive and has shown its preparedness for outbreaks of emerging and epidemic-prone diseases, and in dealing with these pathogens. Even before the declaration of pandemic, Canada has proved its global health leadership by ensuring collective action and multisectoral coordination which still remains a serious challenge especially for low and middle- income countries with existing poor health systems. In this article we discuss how Canada is addressing the global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic through its leadership and practice of global health diplomacy.
COVID-19 Pandemic as an Excellent Opportunity for Global Health Diplomacy
(Frontiers in Public Health, 2021) Taghizade, Sanaz; Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Jaafaripooyan, Ebrahim; Kevany, Sebastian
Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic is not the first and most frightening global pandemic, and it may not be the last. At the very least, this phenomenon has though seriously challenged the health systems of the world; it has created a new perspective on the value of national, regional, and international cooperation during crises. The post-coronavirus world could be a world of intensified nationalist rivalries on the economic revival and political influence. However, strengthening cooperation among nations at different levels will lead to the growth of health, economy, and security. The current situation is a touchstone for international actors in coordinating the efforts in similar future crises. At present, this pandemic crisis cannot be resolved except through joint international cooperation, global cohesion, and multilateralism. This perspective concludes that the pandemic could be an excellent opportunity for the scope of global health diplomacy (GHD) and how it can be applied and practiced for strengthening five global arenas, namely (1) International Cooperation and Global Solidarity, (2) Global Economy, Trade and Development, (3) Global Health Security, (4) Strengthening health systems, and (5) Addressing inequities to achieve the global health targets. GHD proves to be very useful for negotiating better policies, stronger partnerships, and achieving international cooperation in this phase with many geopolitical shifts and nationalist mindset among many nations at this stage of COVID-19 vaccine roll-out
COVID-19 pandemic containment in the Caribbean Region: A review of case-management and public health strategies
(AIMS Public Health, 2021) Umakanthan, Srikanth; Chauhan, Anuradha; Gupta, Madan Mohan; Sahu, Pradeep Kumar; Bukelo, Maryann M; Chattu, Vijay Kumar
COVID-19 emerged initially from Wuhan, Hubei province, China, in late December 2019, and since then, it has spread globally to be declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The Caribbean region started reporting COVID-19 cases in early March 2020, triggering new regional public health crises. The initial suspects and confirmed cases across the Caribbean countries were mainly imported cases and from cruise ships. The clinical manifestations varied from fever, cough, and malaise in mild cases to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and shock in severe cases. The Caribbean Public Health Agency has provided frequent updates on the preventive strategies and quarantine measures across the Caribbean member states. COVID-19 has had a serious impact on the Caribbean region’s health system, economy, and psychology. This review presents the Caribbean perspective of COVID-19, detailing the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, management, and preventive and surveillance measures. Vaccine hesitancy was found to be a major challenge that needs appropriate health education strategies to address the public. Strong leadership and regional collaboration among the Caribbean member states are necessary to provide optimal real-time data to the public and implement appropriate and effective guidelines in the island states
COVID-19 Vaccine, TRIPS, and Global Health Diplomacy: India’s Role at the WTO Platform
(BioMed Research International, 2021) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Singh, Bawa; Kaur, Jaspal; Jakovljevic, Mihajlo
In light of the devastation caused by COVID-19, the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and vaccine research and development (R&D) have been occupying a prominent position in the field of global health diplomacy (GHD). Most countries, international organizations, and charitable organizations have been engaged in the R&D of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure timely affordability and accessibility to all countries. Concomitantly, the World Trade Organization (WTO) provides some provisions and enforcements regarding copyrights, patents, trademarks, geographical indications, and industrial designs. Given these safeguards, it is considered that intellectual property rights (IPRs) have become major barriers to the affordability and accessibility of vaccines/medicines/technology, particularly to the developing/least developed countries. Realizing the gravity of the pandemic impact, as well as its huge population and size, India has elevated this issue in its global health diplomacy by submitting a joint proposal with South Africa to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for a temporary waiver of IPRs to ensure timely affordability and accessibility of COVID-19 medical products to all countries. However, the issue of the temporary waive off had become a geopolitical issue. Countries that used to claim per se as strong advocates of human rights, egalitarianism, and healthy democracy have opposed this proposal. In this contrasting milieu, this paper is aimed at examining how the TRIPS has become a barrier for developing countries’ development and distribution of vaccines/technology; secondly, how India strategizes its role in the WTO in pursuant of its global health diplomacy? We conclude that the IPRs regime should not become a barrier to the accessibility/affordability of essential drugs and vaccines. To ensure access, India needs to get more engaged in GHD with all the involved global stakeholders to get strong support for their joint proposal. The developed countries that rejected/resisted the proposal can rethink their full support
Developing a community‑based breast cancer risk prediction tool for resource‑poor settings
(Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 2019) Pillai, Divya; Shah Hossain, Shaikh; Chattu, Vijay Kumar
BACKGROUND: With an estimation of every two women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, one dies. It is accounted that 1 in 28 women is likely to develop breast cancer during her lifetime. Developing a risk prediction tool by assessing the prevalence of known risk factors in the community will help public health intervention. METHODOLOGY: A cross‑sectional study was conducted among 18–64‑year‑old women to gather the prevalence of known breast cancer risk factors, through a community survey (sample survey). In this multistage random number‑based cluster sampling study, the results were compiled, collated, and analyzed in rates and proportions. Statistical conclusions were made using spreadsheets (Microsoft) and the values were converted into ordinal values using modified Likert scale and median was used to estimate central values. The estimated prevalence of these known risk factors was re‑assorted for analysis and these re‑assorted data were categorized into range of values across the communities. The internal validity of the survey questionnaire was measured using Cronbach’s alpha (α). RESULTS: The analysis of 558 participants was performed for the known risk factors for breast cancer including participant’s age, age at menarche, marriage, first childbirth, menopause, family history of breast cancer and benign breast disease, history of abortion, and body mass index. Based on the estimated prevalence of these risk factors, a community‑based risk prediction tool was developed with Cronbach’s α score of medium internal validity. CONCLUSIONS: The risk assessment tool has collated most of the risk factors of breast cancer that are capable of being measured at community level. The survey findings concluded that the community under survey was bearing moderate risk for breast cancer for women
The Emerging Role of Blockchain Technology Applications in Routine Disease Surveillance Systems to Strengthen Global Health Security
(Big Data and Cognitive Computing, 2019) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Nanda, Anjali; Chattu, Soosanna Kumary; Manzoor Kadri, Syed; Knight, W. Andy
Blockchain technology has an enormous scope to revamp the healthcare system in many ways as it improves the quality of healthcare by data sharing among all the participants, selective privacy and ensuring data safety. This paper explores the basics of blockchain, its applications, quality of experience and advantages in disease surveillance over the other widely used real-time and machine learning techniques. The other real-time surveillance systems lack scalability, security, interoperability, thus making blockchain as a choice for surveillance. Blockchain o ers the capability of enhancing global health security and also can ensure the anonymity of patient data thereby aiding in healthcare research. The recent epidemics of re-emerging infections such as Ebola and Zika have raised many concerns regarding health security which resulted in strengthening the surveillance systems. We also discuss how blockchains can help in identifying the threats early and reporting them to health authorities for taking early preventive measures. Since the Global Health Security Agenda addresses global public health threats (both infectious and NCDs); strengthen the workforce and the systems; detect and respond rapidly and e ectively to the disease threats; and elevate global health security as a priority. The blockchain has enormous potential to disrupt many current practices in traditional disease surveillance and health care research
Equity in health care: is it achievable?
(Elsevier Public Health Emergency Collection, 2020) Pooransingh, Shalini; Chattu, Vijay Kumar
An Exploratory Study of Quality of Life and Its Relationship with Academic Performance among Students in Medical and other Health Professions
(Medical Sciences, 2020) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Sahu, Pradeep Kumar; Seedial, Neela; Seecharan, Gerlisa; Seepersad, Amanda; Seunarine, Melina; Sieunarine, Shivanna; Seymour, Kahamaron; Simboo, Samantha; Singh, Arissa
Quality of life (QOL) is a broader concept which represents experiences, states, appraisals, behaviors, capacities and emotional reactions to circumstances. The study aimed to evaluate the di erences in various domains of QOL among the students of five schools (medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and nursing) and an optometry unit in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Trinidad and Tobago. Further, the study evaluated the factors (sociodemographic variables and academic performance) predictive of physical, psychological, social and environment domains of quality of life. The research tool consisted of a validated questionnaire which had two sections; (1) sociodemographics inclusive of students’ cumulative grade point average and (2) the shorter version of WHO quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). The data were transformed into a linear scale and exported into the IBM SPSS version 24 where t-tests, one-way ANOVA and stepwise regression were performed. Of the total 535 participants, most 383 (71.6%) were females. While comparing the di erences in the domains of QOL that existed based on the schools (professions) they were enrolled, significant di erences were recorded for physical (p < 0.05), psychological (p < 0.05) social (p < 0.05) and environmental domains (p < 0.05). Though the domains of physical health, psychological health and environment showed a significant association with the academic performance of students, the social domain had no such relationship. The overall quality of life has a positive connection with the academic performance of students in medical and health professions. Therefore, universities and all stakeholders involved in health professions need to play a critical role to ensure the students in health professions maintain a high QOL. At the same time, there is a great need for extra attention for students who showed poor academic performance in the previous semester to bring them on track.
Global epidemiology, risk factors, and histological types of ovarian cancers in Trinidad
(Journal of Family Medicine and Primary, 2019) Umakanthan, Srikanth; Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Kalloo, Sherene
Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer in women in the world and Trinidad and Tobago is ranked 18th in the world with respect to the rate of occurrence. About 68% cases are diagnosed at a late stage, resulting in low survival rates. Since there is very scanty literature available on the epidemiology of ovarian cancer in the Caribbean region, this study was undertaken to assess the most common risk factors, presenting symptoms and common histological varieties in Trinidad. Methods: A hospital‑based, cross‑sectional study was designed, and all the 23 diagnosed ovarian cancer cases registered during 2015–2017 were considered. Information on sociodemographics, presenting symptoms, and histological type of cancers were collected after getting the ethical approval. Of the total 23 cases, 17 cases were included in this study after ensuring completeness of data as detailed analysis of patient data was done using Microsoft Excel. Results: The common risk factors identified were previous pregnancies, previous surgeries, and irregularities in the menstrual cycle. The commonest histological variety was granulosa tumors and the most common associated symptoms were irregular menses and abdominal pain in premenstrual women, and abdominal distention in postmenopausal women. Conclusions: It would greatly enhance the detection rate if screening and testing for the CA‑125 gene were a mandatory practice, for any patient found with more than three risk factors. The public health authorities should identify the modifiable risk factors and implement cancer reduction and health promotion activities to reduce the mortality related to ovarian cancers
Global health diplomacy at the intersection of trade and health in the COVID-19 era
(Health Promotion Perspective, 2021) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Pooransingh, Shalini; Allahverdipour, Hamid
Global health diplomacy has gained significant importance and undoubtedly remained high on the agendas of many nations, regional and global platforms amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Many countries have realized the importance of the health sector and the value of a healthy workforce. However, there is little control on issues related to trade that impact on human health due to the dominance of profit-oriented business lobbies. A balance, however, needs to be struck between economic profits and a healthy global population. This paper aimed to highlight the importance of building capacity in global health diplomacy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic so that health personnel may effectively negotiate on the multisectoral stage to secure the resources they need. The recent proposal to waive off certain provisions of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19 by India and South Africa at the World Trade Organization (WTO) presents an important opportunity for all governments to unite and stand up for public health, global solidarity, and equitable access at the international level so that both developed and developing nations may enjoy improved health outcomes related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Global Health Diplomacy Fingerprints on Human Security
(International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2019) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Knight, W. Andy; Reddy, K. Srikanth; Aginam, Obijiofor
Human security is a concept that challenges the traditional notion of national security by placing the ‘human’ as the central referent of security instead of the ‘state.’ It is a concept that encompasses health and well-being of people and prioritizes their fundamental freedoms and basic livelihoods by shielding them from acute socioeconomic threats, vulnerabilities and stress. The epicenter of “health security” is located at the intersection of several academic fields or disciplines which do not necessarily share a common theoretical approach. Diverse players in the “health security” domain include practitioners in such fields as security studies, foreign policy, international relations, development theory, environmental politics and the practices of the United Nations system and other multilateral bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Improvements in health are not only dependent on continued commitments to enhance the availability of healthcare and to strengthen disease prevention systems; they are very much enhanced by that intersection between global security and global health. What is emerging is global health diplomacy paradigm that calls for strengthening of core capacities in the public health and foreign policy arenas aimed at advancing human security through the strengthening of global health diplomacy practices. Human security in its broadest sense embraces far more than the absence of violence and conflict. It encompasses human rights, good governance, access to education and health care, and ensuring that each individual has opportunities and devices to fulfill his or her potential. Every step in this direction is a step towards reducing poverty, achieving growth and preventing conflict. Freedom from want, freedom from fear and the freedom of future generations to inherit a natural environment – these are the interrelated building blocks of human‑ and therefore national security
Higher Education as a Bridge between China and Nepal: Mapping Education as Soft Power in Chinese Foreign Policy
(Societies, 2021) Gauttam, Priya; Singh, Bawa; Chattu, Vijay Kumar
In this globalized world, education has become an important medium to enhance people-to-people contact. The Delores report of the International Commission on Education for the 21st century highlights the enormous potential of higher education to use globalization as a resource for bridging the knowledge gap and enriching cross-cultural dialogue. As a major contributor to soft power and an important field of public diplomacy, international education can have a wealth of advantages, including the ability to generate commercial value, promote a country’s foreign policy goals and interests, and contribute to economic growth and investment. The People’s Republic of China, well-known for being the world’s most populous nation and the global economic powerhouse, prioritizes the internationalization of the country’s higher education system. China is looking to expand its higher education program and carry out its diplomatic project in South Asia. In this sense, the South Asian zone, especially Nepal, is significant for China, where its educational diplomacy is playing as a “bridge between Sino- Nepal relations.” In this review, we describe the place and priority of “Education” in China’s foreign policy; explore China’s mediums of investment in Nepal’s education sector; and highlight the importance of educational aid in Sino-Nepal relations. Chinese educational aid to Nepal takes many forms, where Nepali students and officials engage with Chinese investment to enhance their career prospects and the education system in Nepal
India’s Health Diplomacy as a Soft Power Tool towards Africa: Humanitarian and Geopolitical Analysis
(Journal of Asian and African Studies, 2021) Mol, Rajani; Singh, Bawa; Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Kaur, Jaspal; Singh, Balinder
India and Africa have been sharing a multidimensional relationship of cooperation and friendship since the ancient civilizations. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new possibilities and opportunities for India to leverage its soft power diplomacy towards Africa. The paper’s main focus is to analyze how India has made soft power part of its foreign policy and examine India’s relationship with the African continent through health diplomacy. A literature search was done in major databases, such as Web of Science, Medicine/ PubMed, Scopus, OVID, and Google Scholar search engine to gather relevant information. Through humanitarian assistance and geopolitical influence, India had won the support and heart of Africans. Besides, India has become a global healthcare provider in the African continent through its global health diplomacy and vaccine diplomacy. India has achieved impressive gains through its soft power diplomacy and has become a compassionate and benevolent actor in the African continent.
The Interlinked Rising Epidemic of Insufficient Sleep and Diabetes Mellitus
(Healthcare, 2019) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Chattu, Soosanna Kumary; Burman, Deepa; Spence, David Warren; Pandi-Perumal, Seithikurippu R.
For healthy existence, humans need to spend one-third of their time sleeping. Any qualitative or quantitative disturbances in sleep would result in an increased prevalence of obesity, metabolic disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension. The paper aims to highlight the growing global problem of insufficient sleep and its significant impact on the rising incidence of diabetes mellitus. An extensive literature search was done in all major databases for “insufficient sleep” and “Diabetes Mellitus” for this review. Shorter (<6 h) and longer (>9 h) durations of sleep have been adversely related to insulin resistance. Though the relation between insufficient sleep and diabetes mellitus is more or less understood, little is known about how oversleeping or hypersomnia (10–12 h) increases the risk of diabetes. The relationship between sleep disturbances and diabetes is dual-sided, as chronic sleep disturbances would elevate the risk of developing insulin resistance, while diabetes would worsen the quality of sleep. Both the qualitative and quantitative disturbances in sleep significantly increase the risk of developing diabetes, which is supported by numerous community-based and hospital-based epidemiological studies discussed in this review. Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders and is characterized by chronic intermittent hypoxia and increased sympathetic activity, thus leading to a higher prevalence of diabetes. Sleep therapy may serve as a low-cost method for fighting against the rising epidemic of diabetes
Investigation of the Risk Factors and Associated Co-Morbid Conditions among Patients with Colorectal Cancer in Trinidad
(Gastrointestinal Disorders, 2020) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Gopie, Priya; Singh, Rajiv K.; Singh, Kimberly; Singh, Sachin; Singh, Sarah; Smith, Javanna; Sookram, Vitra; Saunders, DeAngello; Thomas, Krissi
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer, and the fourth most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. In Trinidad and Tobago, it is the third most common type of cancer in both sexes. Since there is scanty research on the risk factors associated with CRC, this study was conducted to determine the correlation between risk factors, including associated comorbid conditions, and CRC in Trinidad. A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst diagnosed CRC patients (>18 years) using a pre-tested questionnaire consisting of sections on demographic data, lifestyle before diagnosis, quality of life, and depression status. Additional information such as recurrence of cancer, Body Mass Index (BMI), Hypertension (HT), blood glucose levels and family history of cancer were collected from the medical records. Of the total participants, the majority were males (58%), and the mean age of diagnosis in both sexes was 65 years. The retrospective chart review showed that 68% were found to have a comorbid condition (Diabetes or HT). Upon review of the medical records, 93.2% of the subjects did not have a familial history. However, the questionnaire data showed that 73% of subjects had a family history. Around 50% of CRC patients were alcohol consumers and 30% were cigarette smokers prior to their cancer diagnosis. Interestingly, a majority of patients (91%) had never been screened for CRC prior to their diagnosis. Subjects with CRC displayed minimal depression, indicating that being diagnosed with CRC did not have a grave impact on their state of mind or quality of life. Our findings showed that prevalence of CRC was higher in males and amongst individuals of African descent. However, larger prospective studies may be warranted to fully demonstrate this effect
The need for health diplomacy in health security operations
(Health Promotion Perspective, 2019) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Kevany, Sebastian
The concept of health security involves the intersection of several fields and disciplines and is an inherently political and sensitive area. It is also a relatively a new field of study and practice which lacks a precise definition - though numerous disciplines and areas like foreign policy, national interests, trade interests, health security, disaster relief, and human rights contribute to the concept. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need for, health diplomacy in improving health security. For example, it is not unusual for developing country societies to build their health security measures by restricting travel and movement of those emanating from affected areas. When extreme health security measures threaten cordial and cooperative relations between nations, the issue of protection of one country’s population may lead to the risk of international conflict. As the World Health Organization (WHO) stated in 2007 that ‘functioning health systems are the bedrock of health security,’ it is crucial that partners with sound financial and technical capacities benefit developing countries through their assistance and sharing information. This paper explores how health diplomacy holds great promise to address the needs of global health security through binding or nonbinding instruments, enforced by global governance mechanisms
Politics of disease control in Africa and the critical role of global health diplomacy: A systematic review
(Health Promotion Perspective, 2021) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Knight, W. Andy; Adisesh, Anil; Yaya, Sanni; Reddy, K. Srikanth; Di Ruggiero, Erica; Aginam, Obijiofor; Aslanyan, Garry; Clarke, Michael; Massoud, M. Rashad; Jha, Ashish
Background: Africa is facing the triple burden of communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and nutritional disorders. Multilateral institutions, bilateral arrangements, and philanthropies have historically privileged economic development over health concerns. That focus has resulted in weak health systems and inadequate preparedness when there are outbreaks of diseases. This review aims to understand the politics of disease control in Africa and global health diplomacy’s (GHD’s) critical role. Methods: A literature review was done in Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Google scholar search engines. Keywords included MeSH and common terms related to the topics: “Politics,” “disease control,” “epidemics/ endemics,” and “global health diplomacy” in the “African” context. The resources also included reports of World Health Organization, United Nations and resolutions of the World Health Assembly (WHA). Results: African countries continue to struggle in their attempts to build health systems for disease control that are robust enough to tackle the frequent epidemics that plague the continent. The politics of disease control requires the crafting of cooperative partnerships to accommodate the divergent interests of multiple actors. Recent outbreaks of COVID-19 and Ebola had a significant impact on African economies. It is extremely important to prioritize health in the African development agendas. The African Union (AU) should leverage the momentum of the rise of GHD to (i) navigate the politics of global health governance in an interconnected world (ii) develop robust preparedness and disease response strategies to tackle emerging and reemerging disease epidemics in the region (iii) address the linkages between health and broader human security issues driven by climate change-induced food, water, and other insecurities (iv) mobilize resources and capacities to train health officials in the craft of diplomacy. Conclusion: The AU, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and African Centres for Disease Control should harmonize their plans and strategies and align them towards a common goal that integrates health in African development agendas. The AU must innovatively harness the practice and tools of GHD towards developing the necessary partnerships with relevant actors in the global health arena to achieve the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals
Port of Spain Summit Declaration as a successful outcome of global health diplomacy in the Caribbean region: a systematic review
(Health Promotion Perspective, 2019) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Knight, W. Andy
Background: The Caribbean region, with a population of around 17 million, has the highest burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the region of the Americas. It is estimated that diabetes and hypertension has an economic impact of around 5%-8% of the gross domestic product of the region. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand how global health diplomacy contributed to the evolution of a collective Caribbean regional summit declaration to address the epidemic of NCDs. Methods: A systematic review was conducted, and all the major databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, Global Health database and other available policy documents from various sources were screened. All articles available from 1910-2018 were extracted. From the total of 3223 titles, after filtering, the search narrowed down to 28 full texts that are included in this study. Policy documents and articles related to NCDs, global health diplomacy, and the Port of Spain Declaration (POSD) were the focused themes. Results: The Caribbean region showed significant commitment to the prevention and control of NCDs through its united voice and commitment since 2001. The successful rounds of negotiations for regional health have led to the formulation of the 15- point multisectoral POSD “Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic NCDs.” This was the first Summit in the world where the Heads of Government focused on prevention and control of NCDs with a clear road map for policy implementation, collaboration, and collective action. This regional summit declaration gained global attention and resulted in the United Nations Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and as WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020. Conclusion: There is enormous scope for this evolving area of Global Health Diplomacy in addressing the future challenges of health security
Rethinking and strengthening the Global Health Diplomacy through triangulated nexus between policy makers, scientists and the community in light of COVID-19 global crisis
(Biomed Central (Springer Nature), 2021) AlKhaldi, Mohammed; James, Nigel; Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Ahmed, Sara; Meghari, Hamza; Kaiser, Kirsty; Ijsselmuiden, Carel; Tanner, Marcel
The COVID-19 pandemic is considerably the biggest global health challenge of this modern era. Spreading across all regions of the world, this corona virus disease has disrupted even some of the most advanced economies and healthcare systems. With an increasing global death toll and no near end in sight, questions on the efficacy of global response mechanisms, including the role and relevancy of global health institutions, have emerged. Using a reflexive content analytic approach, this study sheds light on some of these questions, underscoring the disconnect between science, policymaking, and society. Global health funding approaches; politicization of the pandemic, including political blame gaming; mistrust of government and other institutions; and a lack of robust accountability measures are some of the pandemic response obstacles. However, COVID-19 has also presented an opportunity for a collaboration that may potentially solidify global solidarity. A pandemic response built on strategic global health diplomacy, vaccine diplomacy, and science diplomacy can spur both political and economic benefits, advancing development, health security, and justice. The virus thrives and flourishes in face of political divisions and lack of cooperation. While the current global crisis has exacerbated the existing social injustices in societies, national unity and global solidarity is essential to winning the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Strengthening African health systems through global health diplomacy
(Health Promotion Perspective, 2020) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Pooransingh, Shalini

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