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  • COP29: Islamic Development Bank grants $10m to WHO for Health Impact Investment

    COP29: Islamic Development Bank grants $10m to WHO for Health Impact Investment

    The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has committed a $10 million grant to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the Health Impact Investment Platform (HIIP), bolstering its mission to strengthen primary healthcare systems worldwide.

    Announced on November 12, 2024, during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, the grant highlights IsDB’s dedication to enhancing health resilience and climate adaptation in low- and middle-income countries.

    In a statement on Tuesday, IsDB described HIIP as a groundbreaking partnership among Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), WHO and nations seeking robust health and climate solutions.
    “This initiative focuses on the investment in essential, climate and crisis-resilient primary health care services and systems,” the bank stated, emphasizing the aim to reinforce the health system, especially in low- and middle-income countries and in underserved communities, ultimately aiming to foster resilience against emerging health threats and climate challenges.

    Fifteen countries are identified as part of phase one of the Health Impact Investment Platform: Burundi, Central African Republic, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia Guinea Bissau .

    Other countries included Jordan, Maldives Morocco, Senegal, South Sudan, The Gambia, Tunisia and Zambia.

    Supporting WHO’s technical assistance goals
    The $10 million grant will specifically support the technical assistance that WHO provides to countries around the world to assess investment needs and to design the most impactful health projects.

    “These projects will serve as the foundation for co-investment by the MDBs, ensuring that resources are directed toward areas with the greatest potential for positive health outcomes,”IsDB added.

    Over the next four years, WHO aims to strengthen climate resilience as part of its Fourteenth General Programme of Work, which includes implementing national climate adaptation plans and making 10,000 health facilities fully operational, including solar-powered electrification.

    Unlocking $500m in health investments across the region
    In addition to the $10 million grant, IsDB’s contribution is projected to unlock at least $500 million in health investments across the region.

    “This collective goal is part of a broader effort to mobilize a total of US$ 1.5 billion in concessional loans and grants, focusing on critical areas, this way addressing national health priorities.”

    Advancing health resilience, leadership statements
    IsDB President Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser said, the Islamic Development Bank is proud to support the Health Impact Investment Platform as part of our unwavering commitment to advancing universal health coverage and resilience in our Member Countries.

    “These Multilateral Development Banks and WHO partnerships enable us to scale up primary health care where it is needed most, creating a stronger foundation to withstand future crises and addressing the pressing health challenges of today.”

    “Together, we are fostering a healthier, more equitable future for communities across the globe,” he said.

    WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that low- and middle-income countries need access to sustainable financing to strengthen their health systems through primary health care, to make them both more resilient to pandemics and more equitable in delivering essential health services.

    “The Health Impact Investment Platform combines WHO’s public health expertise and on-the-ground presence with the resources and financing expertise of the Islamic Development Bank and other multilateral development banks. By working together, we can make a significant difference in improving health outcomes and creating a healthier future for all.”

    The IsDB, along with its partners, remains committed to fostering partnerships that will advance healthcare and improve quality of life globally.

  • COP29: WHO director-general urges global readiness to tackle health threats

    COP29: WHO director-general urges global readiness to tackle health threats

    The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday urged countries to take proactive measures to prevent the recurrence of pandemics and the spread of new viruses.

    Addressing leaders, scientists, and health advocates at the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, Ghebreyesus said analysis and predictions regarding the probability of recurrence of pandemics and new viruses will play a pivotal role in the coming years,

    “Several measures are already being implemented in response,” he noted, adding that preventing the recurrence of such incidents is possible only if the countries take necessary preparatory measures in advance and act cautiously.
    Dr. Tedros also emphasized the intersection of climate change and public health, speaking on to the urgent need for ongoing monitoring and preventive action to protect communities from future emergencies. “It is vital to be prepared to prevent threats and minimize their consequences. At the same time, each of us must realize our responsibility,” he added.

    Health impacts of extreme weather and pollution
    In his address, Dr. Tedros challenged attendees by asking: “Why does climate change matter? Why should we care about rising temperatures, sea levels, and extreme weather events? We care because, ultimately, climate change is about human health.”

    Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and air pollution, Dr. Tedros explained, are not merely environmental threats— but direct drivers of illness and premature death. Quoting Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, he said, “We care about rising sea levels and temperatures because they take land and homes, make our planet less habitable, contribute to cardiovascular disease, and fuel the spread of communicable diseases to new places.”

    “We care about extreme weather events because they claim lives, devastate livelihoods, and destroy infrastructure. We care about air pollution because it fills our lungs with poison. That’s why we say climate crisis a health crisis. This crisis is not sometime in the future—It’s right here and now, affecting us all,” Dr. Tedros added.

    Vulnerable populations bear the heaviest burden
    The WHO chief warned that the impacts of climate change are already being felt, with vulnerable populations, especially women and children, bearing the heaviest burdens. “Air pollution alone is responsible for seven million premature deaths each year,” Dr. Tedros revealed, adding that it’s a leading cause of under-five mortality.

    “Rising temperatures are expanding the reach of infectious diseases like malaria, and last year, people faced a record 50 additional days of health-threatening heat.”

    The statistics paint a grim picture. Over 20 million people were displaced by weather-related disasters last year, and the situation may worsen. By 2050, climate change is projected to push up to 158 million more women and girls into extreme poverty, outnumbering men and boys by 16 million in this vulnerable group.

    Climate action is self-preservation
    “Climate action is self-preservation; climate inaction is self-sabotage,” Dr. Tedros urged, emphasizing the urgency of climate action for the sake of children and future generations.

    He highlighted a WHO report released at COP29, which estimates that 1.9 million premature deaths could be prevented through five evidence-based interventions: early warning systems for extreme heat, solar-powered health facilities, improved water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), cleaner household energy, and updated fiscal policies on fossil fuel subsidies.

    Protecting People, Places, and the Planet
    According to Dr. Tedros, protecting people, places, and the planet is key. Protecting people means prioritizing equity and human rights while building climate-resilient health systems, he explained.

    He outlined WHO’s approach to addressing the climate health crisis through the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), which unites 90 countries and over 70 partners to drive national-level progress on health and climate resilience.
    Dr. Tedros also highlighted the importance of making cities healthier places to live, with cleaner energy, zero-emissions transportation, and sustainable infrastructure. “We need cities and communities that nurture health rather than harm it,” he stated.
    Finally, protecting the planet will require overhauling financial systems to reduce reliance on fossil fuel extraction and promote well-being for all, he argued, stressing that governance must prioritize the needs of the most affected communities.

    “There is no stronger argument for climate action than health,” Dr. Tedros concluded. “And there is no stronger motivation than the health of our children.”