Health
Health is a fundamental human right. Ireland believes that investing in good health is essential for reducing poverty.
There have been impressive improvements in health over the past number of decades, but huge challenges remain. Access to essential health services is unequal. The quality of those services is also unequal. We are strengthening the health systems of our partner countries. This includes preparing for future health threats.
We have a long-standing focus on improving maternal health outcomes. Our work emphasises the importance of sexual and reproductive health care.
Healthcare needs to prepare for, adapt and respond to the impacts of climate change. Our work to strengthen healthcare systems takes into account climate issues.
We do all this by working through international and national partners. As an EU member state, we actively support a Team Europe approach.
Our work in global health contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.
4th
AIDS remains the fourth-leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa
1.5 million
The number of people still dying from vaccine-preventable diseases
5 million
The number of under-5 deaths worldwide in 2021, down from 12.8 million in 1990.
Ireland supports global health initiatives and has both product development and domestic partnerships focused on developing and improving health systems.
Global health initiatives
We support global health initiatives that strengthen health systems and reduce disease around the world. To shape and develop global health policy we work through multilateral fora. Civil society engagement through partner countries is key to strengthen access to health services.
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and malaria
One of Ireland’s longest global health partnerships is with the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This fund was founded in 2002 to accelerate the end of the AIDS, TB and malaria epidemics. An estimated 50 million lives have been saved through the Global Fund partnership.
Ireland increased its support by 30% for 2023-2026 for a total of €65 million.
Global Vaccine Alliance
The Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) is an innovative public-private partnership. It is committed to saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing access to immunisations.
GAVI is working on the development and fair delivery of vaccines to children in the world’s poorest countries. GAVI now vaccinates almost half of the world’s children. Ireland has been contributing to the work of the alliance since 2002.
In 2023, we provided €4 million to GAVI.
Aidspan
Aidspan is an independent watchdog of the Global Fund. It provides information and analysis aimed at promoting value for money and impact.
Ireland is a long-term core supporter, providing €100,000 in 2023.
World Health Organisation
Ireland is a key partner with the WHO. We provide both core funding and specific thematic funding each year. Ireland’s core funding supports the WHO’s strategy for the five-year period, 2019-2025.
Ireland provided €2 million in core funding to the WHO in 2023.
In response to devastating consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ireland supported the WHO’s emergency response with €1.5 million. This funding contributed to the provision of life-saving trauma and emergency health care, including the minimum initial service package for sexual and reproductive health care.
Ireland also supports the WHO’s Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE). This facility allows for rapid response to disease outbreaks or other health emergencies at 24hrs notice. The rapid transfer of resources helps save lives and prevent unnecessary suffering in the very early stage of a crisis.
Ireland contributed €2 million to the CFE in 2023.
Ireland also contributed €2 million to the WHO in its collaboration with UNICEF to implement the UN Global Action Plan on Child Wasting.
UNESCO
Ireland has supported the UNESCO Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future programme since 2018. This has become the biggest comprehensive sexuality education programme in sub-Saharan Africa. The programme aims to empower adolescents and young people. It helps them to develop the skills and knowledge to prevent HIV, reduce early and unintended pregnancies, and eliminate gender-based violence.
Ireland has committed to support the programme in 35 African countries, with €1.5 million funding in 2023.
Frontline AIDS
Ireland supports Frontline AIDS, who have been on the forefront of the global HIV/AIDS epidemic for almost 30 years. Their work aims to ensure that people living with HIV do not die of AIDS-related illnesses and that there are no new HIV infections amongst the most marginalised people. Frontline AIDS also work to break down the barriers that marginalised people face.
Ireland has committed to funding of €300,000 in 2023.
Global health solidarity
We fund UNFPA and WHO to respond to the sexual and reproductive health needs of people displaced by the war in Ukraine.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we worked to deliver support to Brazil, India, Nepal and Lebanon. This support included medical equipment and supplies. It was delivered via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism’s emergency response.
We also work with Governments in some countries to support national health programmes. We are providing funding to the Government in Tanzania to finance the purchase of medicines and medical equipment for 5,700 health facilities. We also support the construction, refurbishment and equipping of roughly a dozen primary health facilities per year. These facilities ensure the availability of quality emergency obstetric and new-born care services.
Product development partnerships
Supporting the cutting-edge development of new vaccines, medicine and medical devices is a key component of our approach to health. We do this through product development partnerships with not-for-profit organisations.
TB Alliance
Tuberculosis is the leading global infectious disease. It kills 1.8m of the poorest and most marginalised people each year. TB Alliance leverages a global network of public and private partners to research TB drugs. New, improved and affordable TB therapeutic regimens are developed. They are made available to those who need them most.
Ireland provided €1 million to TB Alliance in 2023.
Medicines for Malaria Venture
Almost half the world’s population are at risk of malaria. The most vulnerable groups, such as young children in sub-Saharan Africa, facing the greatest risk. Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) aims to reduce the burden of malaria by developing and facilitating delivery of new, effective and affordable antimalarial drugs.
Ireland provided €1 million to MMV in 2023.
Domestic partnerships
Ireland has much to share in developing and improving health systems. In parallel to our outward-focused international development, we have long-standing domestic partnerships.
Royal College of Surgeons
We have supported the Royal College of Surgeons’ (RCSI) collaboration programme with the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) since 2008. COSECSA was formed to advance education, training, standards, research and practice in surgical care in the region.
We provided €500,000 funding in 2023.
HSE Global Health Programme
The HSE’s Global Health Programme seeks to improve health outcomes in low and lower-middle income countries. The programme works to achieve this by connecting the HSE staff and other health care professionals with counterparts in 18 countries.
Ireland continued its support to the programme in 2023 with €230,000 funding.
The Irish Global Health Network
The Irish Global Health Network (IGHN) is an independent network of people concerned health issues in low income countries. It aims to build the capacity of individuals and institutions to engage in global health. It provides a platform for increased knowledge, skills and networking.
Ireland provided €120,000 funding in 2023 to the IGHN.