To truly defeat COVID-19 we must have a truly global response

A solution to a global problem is simple; it requires a global response. COVID-19 doesn’t distinguish between the socially constructed borders we’ve built around our countries, and as such, it is imperative that we act in unison — not just as Canadians — but as human beings, to enforce the strength of every country in eradicating COVID-19 through a global pandemic response.

In many ways, the global response to COVID-19 was remarkable. The breadth of the scientific responses that precipitated to COVID-19 would’ve been unthinkable just 30 years ago. Within weeks of the pandemic, scientists from all over the world engaged in information sharing and collaborative research.

For example, the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) brought together more than 100 countries and 6,000 immunologists to host weekly COVID-19 webinars.

Additionally, many countries including the European Commission, France, and Spain committed $360 million to COVAX, the Vaccines Pillar of the Access to COVID-19 (ACT) Accelerator, in order to ensure fair distribution of vaccines to countries worldwide. Canada also proudly provided international relief through a donation of $159.5 million to be used for various causes.

Furthermore, the skyrocketing food insecurity rates caused as many as 132 million children and families to go hungry and malnourished; thus, the Agricultural Market Information System monitored the world food supply and price developments to ensure that trading of food doesn’t leave any one country in a hunger crisis.

Such examples of global initiatives became lifelines for millions of people’s survival.

Evidently, Canadian and global efforts are instrumental in helping terminate the pandemic. However, just like a home can’t be built without a foundation, a global response is unattainable without the efforts of individuals.

Canada has played an important role in the international community through its generous financial contributions thus far; however, it must continue to leverage opportunities to help the countless vulnerable nations that continue to face disparities due to the pandemic.

Canadian and international efforts taken right now can save millions of lives and can prevent an intergenerational pattern of disparities from propagating in the upcoming generations.

JEROME DELAY TORSTAR FILE PHOTO A researcher walks out of a COVID-19 vaccine trial facility outside Johannesburg, South Africa. Diksha Joshi argues we will only beat the pandemic through a united, global effort.