Opinion: After health reform, U.S. should focus on responding to global health needs

Apr 17 2010

"Now that the Obama administration has delivered on health care in the United States, we should think about families around the globe who suffer from malnutrition and lack access to basic maternal and child health-care services, including family planning," Thomas Lovejoy of Population Action International and Jim Harkness, president of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, write in a MinnPost.com opinion piece that examines the health needs of people living in developing countries and ways Congressional leaders can respond.

The authors highlight the commitment of Minnesota Reps. Betty McCollum (D) and Keith Ellison (D) to global health, noting McCollum's work with the Global Food Security Act of 2009 and Ellison's involvement with the CSIS Smart Global Health Policy Commission.  

"Over the next month, members of Congress will debate funding for critical international programs, including climate change, global hunger and food security, and the Global Health Initiative," Lovejoy and Harkness write. "We hope that supporters in Congress and the Obama administration continue to advocate for funding and policies aimed at tackling climate change and improving food security and global health, ensuring improved programs on the ground for the millions of women and families who directly benefit from these efforts" (4/13).