Kicking off the UN's second annual Sustainable Development Goals Moment last month, Unicef Goodwill Ambassador Priyanka Chopra Jonas emphasised the role of solidarity as a driver of change. "Global solidarity is more important than ever," she said. "Together, we have an extraordinary opportunity to change the world we live in."
While she was referring to the fight against climate change, that sentiment could apply to many other global issues. Solidarity is essential to solving many of humanity's most pressing challenges. But it is crucial for achieving health security.
And after two and a half years of Covid-19, the world's health systems are coming apart at the seams. While the end of the pandemic may be in sight, the virus is still raging. Moreover, monkeypox has been officially declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus have been documented in over 30 countries, including the US and the UK. At a time when infectious diseases can spread around the world within hours, global solidarity matters more than ever.
