To keep NC healthy, protect global health programs

Nearly 300 North Carolinians have died from the flu this season alone, and the CDC estimates that as many as 56,000 Americans could die before the year’s brutal flu season comes to an end. But even this severe outbreak of influenza pales in comparison to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic that claimed more than 50 million lives worldwide — 670,000 within our borders.

Despite 100 years and innumerable medical and scientific advances, the United States remains highly vulnerable to disease outbreaks — and it’s not just influenza we have to worry about. Diseases like Ebola, MERS, Zika, or pathogens yet unknown have the potential to threaten millions of lives both overseas and right here at home. Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer — the National Security Council’s long-time point-person for global health security — explained that “Distance alone no longer provides protection from disease outbreaks. Infectious disease and pathogens can move from one point on earth to almost any other place in the worldwithin 36 hours.”

Fortunately, our ability to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks has improved exponentially in recent years. And as a global health hub, the Research Triangle has long been at the forefront of efforts to stay ahead of disease wherever it arises. In fact, North Carolina is home to more than 220 organizations, businesses and academic institutions engaged in global health work in over 185 countries — including my own organization. As the President of DAI Global Health, I’m humbled by the work we’re doing — with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) — to help governments across Africa and Asia prepare for, and respond to, disease outbreaks.

The best way to stop the spread of disease is to contain an outbreak at its source, but developing countries often lack the capacity to do that. By enabling governments to effectively and rapidly respond to outbreaks, American global health programs dramatically reduce the spread of dangerous pathogens. For example, Nigeria was able to quickly halt the spread of Ebola during the 2014 outbreak in part because of earlier investments in its health system made through PEPFAR, America’s signature HIV/AIDS initiative. While neighboring countries recorded devastating losses, Nigeria only saw 19 deaths.

U.S. investments in global health programs not only save lives around the world, they help keep North Carolinians healthy here at home — which is why everyone in the Tar Heel State should be alarmed by the Administration’s latest budget request. Under the proposal, America’s global health programs would be cut by 23 percent, part of a broader 30 percent cut to funding for the State Department, USAID and other development agencies. Also concerning is the recent news that the CDC division for global health protection could be forced to withdraw from 39 countries if Congress doesn’t provide new resources. At less than 1 percent of the federal budget, the cost of failing to control outbreaks and the loss of life far outweighs the cost of prevention through the work of our health and development professionals around the world.

And it’s not just our health that’s in jeopardy; cuts to this small but vital piece of the budget could also deal a blow to North Carolina’s economy. More than 26,000 jobs across the state are supported by global health work, which pumped $3.7 billion into North Carolina’s economy in 2015. More broadly, the opportunity cost of underfunding the diplomatic and development programs that create new export markets overseas would prove devastating for North Carolina. Our state exported close to $30 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2015, and international trade supports more than 1.2 million North Carolina jobs.

With our health, economic and national security on the line, we’re fortunate to have Representative David Price representing North Carolina in Congress. He understands that investments in America’s global health programs are valuable, both here at home and abroad. And as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, he is a critical voice on this issue, calling on his colleagues to “forcefully reject the President’s budget” on the grounds that it would “hamstring diplomacy and international assistance, our most effective tools to promote peace and prosperity on the global stage.”

We cannot close ourselves off to the world and pretend that health threats overseas don’t impact us here at home. A century after one of the most devastating pandemics ever recorded, and in the midst of a severe flu season that has already claimed far too many lives in North Carolina, Congress has a responsibility to ensure we’re doing everything we can to fight disease outbreaks wherever they occur. I urge the entire North Carolina delegation in Congress to fully fund America’s International Affairs Budget.

This story was originally published March 20, 2018 at 10:53 AM with the headline "To keep NC healthy, protect global health programs."