Global Health Security Agenda


The Global Health Security Agenda is a global partnership of 67 countries, stating to be devoted to the purpose of strengthening the world’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. In addition to the 67 member countries GHSA also includes international organizations, and non-governmental organizations. GHSA aims to elevate health security as a national and global priority. GHSA's scope of operation is restricted to infectious diseases.

Purpose

The main purpose of the program is to develop health systems and services to combat threats to health such as those posed by various infectious diseases. GHSA aims to elevate global health security as a national leaders-level priority. It also seeks to accelerate implementation of the International Health Regulations, an instrument adopted in 2005 by 196 countries setting requirements for public health emergencies of all types. The purpose of GHSA has been listed at ghsagenda.org as follows:
GHSA supports the implementation and enforcement of the WHO's international health legislation.

Background

GHSA was launched in February 13, 2014 as a response to the global threat that infectious diseases. Recent outbreaks such as the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak, the 2009 swine flu pandemic, the 2012 Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus outbreak, the 2013 H7N9 influenza outbreak and the Western African Ebola virus epidemic of 2014, motivated the initiative.