Switzerland - IOM last week (10/09) participated in a panel discussion on “Investing in Global Health: Business Solutions for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” organized by the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) and the WHO Centre for Health Development in Kobe, Japan.

The event focused on corporate engagement, with its current challenges and opportunities, in the global health field. Particular emphasis was placed on priorities highlighted in the G7 Ise-Shima Vision, including preparing for and responding to pandemics, expanding access to quality health services to the most vulnerable populations, and promoting active and healthy aging. 

“In a more and more interconnected world, characterized by unprecedented human mobility, any health threat in the world becomes a health threat to the rest of the world,” said Dr. Davide Mosca, Director of IOM’s Migration Health Division.

He highlighted how public health emergencies could have a huge impact on all other sectors of life, including trade, economic development, foreign investment, education and food security.

According to a recent World Bank study, the Ebola (EVD) outbreak resulted in a loss of some USD 2.2 billion in economic development across Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone in 2015 alone. According to 2016 research conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), malaria costs us USD 12 billion per year and SARS resulted in an economic loss of USD 40 billion.

“The collective capacity to prepare for and respond to pandemics and other public health emergencies is essential to achieve Universal Health Coverage. In fact, partnership itself was highlighted in SDG # 17 – Strengthening the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development,” noted Mosca.

IOM has utilized Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a way to incorporate innovative solutions and resource mobilization for humanitarian and public health emergency preparedness for many years and it is important that it keeps doing so,” he added.

In 2015, IOM worked with over 60 different private sector organizations across 49 countries. For example, in Somalia IOM has partnered with Poly-Glu Social Business since 2012. It produces an innovative water flocculent to supply safe and clean water to tens of thousands of crisis-affected people, to prevent and contain water-borne disease outbreaks, the first cause of child mortality in the country.

IOM has also partnered with Panasonic and Solar Partners Co. Ltd. to distribute thousands of solar lanterns in Somalia. This initiative helped reduce gender-based violence amongst internally displaced people, provided income generation opportunities to small business and reduced deforestation.

The corporate panel was a side event held during the G7 Health Ministers’ Meeting held on 11-12 September 2016. Ministers discussed implementation of the G7 Ise-Shima Vision for Global Health, previously discussed during a dedicated summit in May.

For further information, please contact Dr. Davide Mosca at IOM HQ Geneva, Tel: +41 79 833 64 25, Email: dmosca@iom.int