Diplomacy Program

The HHS Global Health Diplomacy Program (GHD) was established in 2009. Its goal is to improve global health in underserved areas, and to create bridges between the United States and other countries. The program has funded projects in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Pacific Region.

  • Strengthening the local health workforces in Central America/Caribbean and Northern Nigeria
  • Supporting the participation of the U.S. Public Health Service in international training and response missions carried out by the uniformed services

Collaboration

The GHD works across multiple agencies within the U.S. Federal Government and other non-governmental organizations. This broad collaboration has allowed the program to extend its reach around the globe. Key partners include:

  • U.S. Agency for International Development
  • Department of State
  • Office of Management and Budget
  • Pan-American Health Organization

For example, the GHD project in Northern Nigeria focuses on training local health workers in health management and epidemiology (the study of health-related patterns). The grantee is the African Field Epidemiology Network. They worked with CDC to adapt CDC's Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) to local conditions in Northern Nigeria. CDC Nigeria assisted by teaching some of the courses and supervising participants. They were also available for technical consultation.

The GHD has worked to:

  • Research and develop best practices
  • Strengthen health systems and health-care infrastructure in developing countries
  • Prevent, detect, and treat disease

Some of the program's highlights include these examples:

  • Gorgas Memorial Health Institute in Panama, April 2011
    • Training for health care workers in underserved communities
    • Identification, prevention, surveillance, and education of infectious diseases
    • 50 participants each from Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic
  • Nigerian epidemiology training
    • 18-month project starting in Month of 2011
    • 15 Nigerian women will be trained in epidemiology and health management
    • First ever instance of Nigerian women participating in any such health training

Transfer from OGA to CDC

The next phase of the Global Health Diplomacy Program will focus on the implementation of two projects, both in collaboration with the Pan-American Health Organization :

  • Strengthening national immunization programs in Latin America and the Caribbean; and
  • Reducing health disparities in HIV prevention and care in Panamá, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic.

To learn more about the work of the Global Health Diplomacy Program within the Office of Global Health Affairs, please contact 202.260.0374. Learn more about the work of the Global Health Diplomacy Program within CDC.