Sen. McConnell can help combat COVID-19 at home by helping our neighbors abroad

The coronavirus has painfully shown us that in today’s interconnected world, no country is completely safe.

As a local pastor in Georgetown, Kentucky, I’ve spent the last several months reflecting on how we can best support our neighbors and our communities in this unprecedented time of need. But we must remember that our neighbors also include our global neighbors. And by helping the world’s most vulnerable, we can also help ourselves bring a faster end to this heartbreaking pandemic.

Nearly six months since the coronavirus outbreak began, our nation’s elected officials have dedicated trillions of dollars to the domestic response, from arming our brave frontline health workers with the protective equipment they need and deserve to helping small businesses stay afloat. In the next phase of emergency funding from Congress, these worthy investments should be augmented by a strong, coordinated, and sufficiently resourced international response.

In order for us to truly end this crisis at home, we must also end it abroad. But so far, global coronavirus response funding accounts for only 0.1 percent of the total emergency spending approved by Congress. I believe there’s a higher purpose and strategic imperative for us to do more.

Last month, I met with Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell’s office to ask him to support a robust global response pandemic package in the next emergency spending bill. Last week, 50 faith leaders from across the country wrote a letter to Senator McConnell and Senate leadership echoing that important call. America’s long-standing commitment to global health has produced a healthier, safer planet. Our leaders should double down on these global health investments and empower them to fight this once-in-a-generation pandemic.

Since its founding in 2002, the Global Fund and its partners have saved 32 million lives by combating diseases like AIDS, TB and malaria. Due to its strong relationships with local partners across the world, including faith-based organizations, the Global Fund is uniquely positioned to distribute funding and supplies to those most in need. The organization has dedicated up to $1 billion for the global COVID-19 response, but desperately needs more resources.

As scientists race to find a vaccine for the coronavirus, it’s important that an eventual vaccine is distributed equitably. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which was first launched in 2000, has given the gift of life to 13 million people, by helping children in the world’s poorest countries access life-saving vaccines for diseases like polio, measles and HPV. Due to its ability to shape the vaccine market, Gavi is well-suited to help ensure an eventual COVID-19 vaccine is distributed fairly.

The collapse of health systems from the coronavirus, particularly in the world’s poorest countries, threatens to undo much of those hard-fought gains. A new report this week signaled that disruptions in treatment caused by COVID-19 could result in one million additional deaths from AIDS, TB and malaria. Any leader who has supported programs like the Global Fund and Gavi previously, must also support additional investments in these programs now.

In the words of Dr. Anthony Fauci: “If you don’t control an outbreak in the developing world, it’s going to come right around and bite you the next season.” Dedicating even a small percentage of the next emergency supplemental to the global fight against the coronavirus would save countless lives and help prevent the reimportation of this deadly virus.

Scripture reminds us that: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” We have a moral obligation to help our vulnerable brothers and sisters whether they live in Lexington or Lagos. Senator McConnell can help combat the coronavirus here at home by doing more to help our global neighbors in need.

Dan Jackson is a pastor in Georgetown.

This story was originally published July 31, 2020 at 11:40 AM.