A global victory against COVID-19 requires creative partnerships

The global response to COVID-19 has reinforced humanity's resilience and spotlighted the unparalleled power of creative partnerships. It also highlights the stark human and financial cost of weak health systems, the consequences of which are unfortunately keenly familiar to those communities dealing with infectious and non-communicable diseases in the developing world. As the fight against COVID-19 began, battles against numerous other health threats had already long been raging. The challenge for any health crisis — whether immediate or decades in the making — is bigger than developing safe and effective medicines or vaccines. The world needs enough qualified health workers to serve all patients; supply chains that ensure reliable access to essential equipment, clean water, food and medicines; uninterrupted preventive care for all, particularly for children, mothers and other vulnerable populations; communities empowered with knowledge and access to care; and so much more. All of this requires a multitude of committed partners to engage and stay the course.