The United States is one of the strongest advocates of global health security in the world, and nowhere is the importance of health security more obvious than in South America today. Global health security not only helps deliver stability; it also helps save lives.
As Prepared for Delivery
Thank you for that introduction, Eric [Farnsworth]. I’d like to thank the Council of the Americas for hosting this gathering here today, which is an important opportunity to come together to discuss the situation in South America and what our respective organizations, from both the public and private sectors, can do about it.
I’m here because HHS plays at least two important public health roles in working across our hemisphere and around the globe, both of which are relevant to our topic of discussion today.
One is helping to respond to public health crises, like outbreaks of communicable disease or even pandemics, and the other is helping countries around the world strengthen their own health systems and preparedness so that, when a crisis erupts, they have capacity to respond.
So first, I want to touch on the current crisis, and then I will speak to how we can work to rebuild systems in our region to prevent future crises.
I know all of you are here because you share our concern about the public health challenges caused by the failure of the former Maduro government and the subsequent mass emigration.
The legitimate government of Venezuela, according to the country’s constitution, is led by Juan Guaido. The Maduro government’s refusal to transition to duly elected leadership has exacerbated Venezuela’s dire humanitarian crisis. The country faces severe shortages of food, medical care, and electricity, forcing millions of Venezuelans to flee. Venezuelans are migrating to neighboring countries in order simply to meet their basic needs.
The resulting wave of refugees is impacting all countries across the region that are receiving the people of Venezuela, not just Venezuela’s neighbors. This places a real strain on these countries, with Colombia, Peru, and Brazil particularly hard hit.
One of the most concerning aspects of this crisis is its health effects. Any time there is an economic collapse, a health crisis is almost certain to follow.
Many of the people fleeing Venezuela are seriously ill with infectious diseases because their conditions were not managed properly while still in the country.
We’re also seeing thousands of cases of vaccine-preventable diseases that were previously rare or entirely eliminated, like measles and diphtheria, arriving in border areas and being spread through local communities.
We know this is a crisis, and the United States is not standing idly by. We are actively working with the Pan-American Health Organization, countries in the region, and private sector leaders like many of you to mobilize aid and help mitigate this situation.
Since February, the United States has airlifted hundreds of tons of humanitarian supplies to Colombia and Brazil, pre-positioned to help those in need.
Since 2017, we have provided more than $195 million in funding to address the situation, including more than $152 million in humanitarian assistance and approximately $43 million in development and economic assistance.
Some of that assistance has gone to tackling particular health challenges, such as supporting vaccination work.
We’ve also worked to be conveners in the region. Last fall, I hosted a number of health ministers from the region here in Washington, at Blair House, to discuss the crisis and plan steps to protect regional public health, in conjunction with a meeting of leaders at the Pan American Health Organization.
In February, we joined an event hosted by the legitimate government of Venezuela at the Organization of American States here in Washington, to lay out a plan for cross-border collaboration on vaccine-preventable diseases, health system resilience, and strengthening public health services.
In a few weeks, I will be representing the United States government at a gathering of senior government officials and subject-matter experts in Lima, hosted by the government of Peru and the OAS, as a follow-up to our Blair House conference. That will provide another opportunity for high-level government cooperation on the range of challenges facing the region.
We’re taking these actions in part because there is a desperate humanitarian need inside and outside Venezuela, but also because letting a crisis like this fester is a threat to global health security.
The United States is one of the strongest advocates of global health security in the world, and nowhere is the importance of health security more obvious than in South America today. Global health security not only helps deliver stability; it also helps save lives.
That is why we are working with our regional partners to strengthen their ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats, today and for the future.
All of us hope that, one day very soon, Venezuela will again have a legitimate government in place, bringing stability back to the country. But that’s when the next stage of our work kicks in: helping Venezuela rebuild its health system.
The first step will be restoring primary healthcare facilities and providing the necessary supplies.
Getting primary health services up and running and securing supplies will require collaborations across sectors, including donors, governments, NGOs, and the private sector. All of you will be able to contribute in various ways to restoring Venezuelans’ access to healthcare.
Venezuela’s critical infrastructure will have to be rebuilt, and that includes healthcare infrastructure, which needs to be one of the highest priorities.
The recovery has to have a human component, as well. We will need to support retraining and equipping health workers who heroically stayed in the country during the crisis, despite lack of support or compensation.
We must also reach out to the many health workers who fled during this crisis, and work to facilitate their return to the country. Venezuela will desperately need their help.
While recovery will be an extended and difficult effort, it also presents an opportunity to build a better healthcare system, one that is more technologically advanced and more responsive to patients.
In that work, like each of the areas I’ve outlined, the contributions and cooperation of the private sector will be absolutely essential.
So, in closing, I want to thank you for your continued engagement on this issue, and ask for your continued commitment.
Your expertise and ideas will be essential to responding to Venezuela’s crisis and helping the Venezuelan people succeed in the restoration of democracy.
Thank you again for welcoming me to this event, and I look forward to ongoing collaboration with all of you.
