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Amidst this global pandemic, don't forget the developing world.
Infection anywhere is a risk everywhere.
THREAD 1/x
Infection anywhere is a risk everywhere.
THREAD 1/x
So far, government and media attention in the developed world have focused at home, responding to the pandemic in our own communities. 2/x
As it should be. Governments' first priority must be their own citizens. And as @acoyne points out, there are positive and encouraging signs that we are making progress 3/x https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-theres-reason-for-hope-in-canadas-coronavirus-data/
But there is another wave coming: the developing world.
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“In 3 to 6 weeks, Europe and America will continue in the throes of this — but there is no doubt the center will move to places like Mumbai, Rio de Janeiro and Monrovia,” says Harvard's @ashishkjha in @washingtonpost "We need to be very worried." 5/x https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/coronavirus-developing-world-brazil-egypt-india-kenya-venezuela/2020/03/31/d52fe238-6d4f-11ea-a156-0048b62cdb51_story.html
We should be worried, because the potential health and economic impact is far greater in developing countries, with their weaker health care systems and social safety nets, and little capacity for stimulus. 6/x
Developing countries are also at higher risk of multiple shocks, like the cyclone that just hit Fiji. 7/x https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/08/cyclone-harold-batters-fiji-on-path-of-destruction-through-pacific
And we should be worried out of self-interest – because in a global pandemic, infection anywhere is a risk everywhere. 8/x
The economic impact is already being felt. As of Friday, IMF Managing @KGeorgieva reported that “Never in the 75 years history of our institution have so many countries found themselves in need of emergency financing." 9/x https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/04/03/sp040320-opening-remarks-for-joint-imf-who-press-conference
As in developed countries, the action required is twofold: responding to immediate health consequences, and supporting economic recovery. 10/x
The gap is large. In many developing countries, the number of physicians per capita is less than *one-tenth* that in the developed world. 11/x https://www.who.int/gho/health_workforce/physicians_density/en/
In response to the pandemic, Oxfam has called for doubling the health spending of all of the world’s 85 poorest countries. 12/x https://oxfamilibrary.openrepository.com/bitstream/handle/10546/620973/mb-confront-coronavirus-catastrophe-public-health-plan-300320-en.pdf?sequence=4
At a cost of $159B it is a significant number, but is also less than 8% of the latest US fiscal stimulus. A very worthy investment. 13/x
Around a quarter of that amount could be financed through a moratorium on debt interest payments from poor countries, which economist Joseph Stiglitz has also called for to avoid a looming debt meltdown in developing countries. 14/x https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/07/world-must-combat-looming-debt-meltdown-in-developing-countries-covid-19
We also need a global stimulus package to avoid a COVID-19 Hunger Crisis, as IISD’s own @carin_smaller presents 15/x https://www.iisd.org/library/covid-19-hunger-crisis
In Canada, our int'l development efforts are more important than ever. That includes the Government of Canada's commitment to increase international development assistance every year towards 2030, as stated in Minister @karinagould's mandate letter 16/x https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters/2019/12/13/minister-international-development-mandate-letter
Remember: In a global pandemic, infection anywhere is a risk everywhere. Let’s not forget developing countries. 17/17
