The Global HEALTH Act provides a comprehensive response to broken health systems in developing countries. It will assist countries to develop well-functioning health systems and robust health workforces that can deliver life-saving health services—long lasting improvements that will help stem the tide of AIDS, malaria, maternal mortality and other preventable, treatable medical conditions that now kill millions.

Email your Representative today and urge them to co-sponsor the Global HEALTH Act.

So what will this legislation do? First, the bill would integrate and harmonize all US foreign aid that goes towards health through the creation of the first comprehensive US Global Health Strategy. This strategy would enhance both aid efficacy and accountability to Congress, the American public, and the beneficiaries of our aid.

Second, the Global HEALTH Act provides unprecedented resources to build health systems. At the bill’s core is a new Global Health Workforce Initiative, which would authorize $2 billion over five years to help at least 12 countries recruit, train, retain, equitably distribute, and increase the effectiveness of their health workforce.

By focusing on building health systems overall, this bill will help countries address the myriad of health issues affecting them —including HIV and AIDS, maternal, newborn and child health, sexual and reproductive health, TB, Malaria, and neglected tropical diseases—and ensure access to a comprehensive package of primary health services. It emphasizes many of the major tenants of the right to health—participation, accountability, equity and non-discrimination—and will revolutionize how the US supports and promotes global health over the next decade and beyond.

Check out PHR’s blog series on the bill. Read the bill itself, our fact sheet, and an analysis of how the bill will help countries reach the right to health, watch videos on the health workforce crisis, and hear from African doctors and nurses as they describe what it is like to work in broken health systems.

And send the following email to your Representative today. Feel free to add in your own experience with global health to the email. And tell 6 friends—we want at least 10 co-sponsors by May 1, and you can help make that happen.