PATH works to ensure all countries have the staff, systems, and supplies they need to prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks and emerging health threats. Here are just a few ways we are integrating our epidemic preparedness and response efforts across health areas and geographies – globally and locally.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top 10 global health threats facing humanity, according to the World Health Organization. Experts estimate that AMR-related deaths could grow to 10 million by 2050. The rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria is a major public health threat, but connected diagnostics can ensure that results are obtained faster and shared with national surveillance systems sooner to better detect and respond to the emergence and spread of AMR infections.
PATH has decades of experience advancing diagnostic capacity and disease surveillance in low- and middle-income countries, specifically through interoperable dashboards that monitor disease trends, including AMR.
Climate Change
Climate change poses a multifaceted threat to health and well-being everywhere, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with limited resources and less resilient infrastructures. With a population of approximately 3.6 billion, climate-vulnerable regions face increasing and worsening weather events—devastating storm systems, floods, wildfires, and heat waves—resulting in a death rate 15 times higher than in less vulnerable regions.
At PATH, preparing the world’s health systems for the impacts of climate change is key to achieving universal health coverage. Our partner-oriented approach centers locally led solutions, data-informed decision-making, innovative technologies, and resilient health systems.
Integrated Surveillance
Integrated surveillance is key to protecting communities against the spread of disease to people and the farm animals they rely on. Nearly 75% of infectious diseases in humans originate from animals, and animal-to-human transmission is increasing because of the climate crisis.
As part of the USAID-funded Infectious Disease Detection and Surveillance project in Uganda, PATH staff are working with government officials and veterinarians to strengthen the country’s health security systems—including critical veterinary laboratories tasked with detecting seven priority zoonotic diseases.
One Health
One Health is an integrated approach that balances the health of people, animals, and the environment. According to Nikolaj Gilbert, PATH’s CEO, “One Health is not just a theory; if we don’t get it right, the risk of new epidemics and pandemics will multiply. The stakes are very high for us, but even higher for those who are the most vulnerable.”
PATH brings together global leaders, policymakers, and experts to confront the critical intersection of human, animal, and environmental health.
Primary Health Care
Primary health care (PHC) is the key to achieving universal health coverage (UHC)—a future state where everyone, everywhere has fair access to the basic health services they need to live healthy lives.
Effective PHC requires health systems with the capacity and resilience to respond to disease outbreaks, track the effects of climate change on humans and animals, and maintain essential health services in times of crisis. PATH and partners are working to strengthen PHC and accelerate global progress towards UHC by strengthening health infrastructure, investing in subnational health systems, digitalizing health systems, prioritizing self-care, and focusing on people-centered services.
