Johannesburg: Former First Lady and founder of the One Economy Foundation, Monica Geingos, has highlighted the potential of new long-acting HIV medicines to transform prevention efforts in Namibia, particularly among young women at high risk of infection.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Geingos made the remarks on Monday during the launch of the Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemics report, themed ‘Breaking the Inequality-Pandemic Cycle: Building True Health Security in a Global Age’. Participating online in a discussion during the launch held in Johannesburg, Geingos illustrated that although scientific and technological achievements have been witnessed, the achievements have been impeded by failure.
Geingos emphasized the revolutionary nature of these medicines, pointing out that while they have the potential to transform HIV responses, access remains a significant issue in many low and middle-income countries. She stressed the impact these medicines could have in Namibia, particularly for young women at risk of HIV, describing them as a potential game changer.
During the discussion, Geingos addressed the issues of intellectual property barriers and insufficient manufacturing capacity, which continue to hinder the supply of pandemic technologies to those in dire need. She noted that these challenges contribute to the inadequate response to pandemics globally.
The discussions at the launch also featured other notable council members, including American economist and professor Joseph Stiglitz, Director of the Institute of Health Equity at University College London, Professor Michael Marmot, and Brazil’s former health minister, Nsia Trindade Lima. The launch, held both in Johannesburg and online globally, underscored the report’s findings on the dangers of inequalities that prolong pandemics such as HIV and tuberculosis.
Compiled by world-leading economists, public health experts, and political leaders from around the globe, the report is based on two years of extensive research. It details how high levels of inequality contribute to the transition of outbreaks into pandemics and how inequality hampers both national and global responses, exacerbating the severity and duration of pandemics.