The US State Department has officially launched a new Bureau of Global Heath Security and Diplomacy, the department revealed in a press release.
The Bureau’s overarching mission is to fortify the global health security architecture to effectively prevent, detect, control, and respond to infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, according to the press release, published on the department’s official website on Tuesday.
“By leveraging and coordinating US foreign assistance, the Bureau aims to foster robust international cooperation, enhancing protection for the United States and the global community against health threats through strengthened systems and policies,” the department said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the vital role the United States must play in addressing global health and health security issues,” it added, noting that “To ensure US leadership is sustained moving forward, the Bureau will provide a unified voice of leadership on global health security and diplomacy, combining strengths, functions, personnel, and resources from various offices.”
Ambassador-at-Large Dr. John N. Nkengasong, will lead the bureau, serving as Ambassador-at-Large, US Global AIDS Coordinator, and Senior Bureau Official for Global Health Security and Diplomacy, and reporting directly to the US secretary of state.
This new Bureau will seamlessly integrate global health security as a core component of US national security and foreign policy, underscoring the Department of State’s commitment to advancing human health worldwide, the department said.
