Today, Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong — U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD), who leads the Department’s Bureau for Global Health Security and Diplomacy — took part in a White House event officially launching the 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy (GHSS). Amb. Nkengasong spoke at the event alongside U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, U.S. Coordinator for Global Health Security Dr. Stephanie Psaki, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs Loyce Pace, U.S. Agency for International Development Assistant Administrator for Global Health Dr. Atul Gawande, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Mandy Cohen, and Maj. Gen. (ret) Paul Friedrichs, Director of the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy.

Strengthening global health security is a U.S. national security priority, essential for protecting the health, lives, and economic wellbeing of Americans and people around the world. Building on the National Biodefense Strategy  and National Security Memorandum-15, the 2024 GHSS outlines the United States’ approach to strengthening global health security capacities and to improving our collective ability to prevent, detect, and respond to new and emerging infectious disease threats around the world. Bilateral, regional, and global partnerships are central to this strategic approach.