Thread by @CharlesBHolmes

.@gatesfoundation's Goalkeepers report is the blueprint for an effective global health response that the US & allies should have set in motion months ago. It's a clear-eyed assessment of where we stand & what we need to do. Quick highlight thread (1/x):
gatesfoundation.org/goalkeepers/re…

First, where we stand: “We’ve been set back about 25 years in about 25 weeks.” This sobering assessment sums up the tragic fact that because of COVID, we risk losing gains made in reducing poverty, hunger, maternal mortality, HIV infections, & virtually every SDG indicator (2/x)

The report's modeling shows how much of a hit development has taken in just 6 months. But it also shows we can get back on track – if the US and other donors recommit to the trailblazing programs that have already saved millions of lives & led countless more out of poverty. (3/x)

That’s why Bill Gates has been pressing Congress to contribute $4 billion to @gavi and $4 billion to the @GlobalFund. These funds will fight COVID while also shoring up some of the best bulwarks we have to avoid backsliding on HIV, TB, and malaria (4/x)
statnews.com/2020/09/14/bil…

His push for funding reinforces the report's key takeaway: massive global damage can be mitigated if wealthy countries recommit to global equity. This includes equity for a COVID vaccine: modeling shows that equitable vaccination will result in half as many COVID deaths. (5/x)

COVID is a clarion call for countries to ‘innovate with equity in mind.’ Globally and domestically, the pandemic has amplified pre-existing societal inequalities. Only by acknowledging inequity head-on in our COVID response plans can we get global development back on track. (6/x)

Let's put this into action by getting tests, treatments, & vaccines to the people who need them most, no matter where they are. Like the report’s conclusion says, what the world does in the next few months matters a great deal. Now is the time to think & act globally. (7/x)

If you’ve made it this far, I highly recommend taking a few mins to browse the full report. The analysis, stories, and modeling drive home how much could be lost if we don’t redouble our global efforts. We've come far in recent decades - we can't afford to backtrack now. (8/8)