DAUK has teamed up with Oxfam in calling for the G20 to
#CancelTheDebt
As a profession we have seen challenging times throughout the pandemic so far. Healthcare systems in some of the world’s poorest countries need urgent help, they need a cash injection to help tackle COVID-19. We’re asking the richest 20 nations in the world (G20) to cancel the dept paid by countless poorer countries. This money can urgently be ploughed into healthcare resources and public health initiatives that are desperately needed. Let’s protect vulnerable people from the short and long-term effects of the coronavirus. Together we can protect each other, our patients and our colleagues to create a fairer future for us all.
Tanzania has 1 doctor for every
people
Uganda has just
Intensive Care beds for a population of
people
We are all health workers, nurses, doctors. Every day we are on the frontline fighting this virus. Every day we are on the wards, in the emergency rooms. Every day we see first-hand the suffering this sickness is causing.
Many of us lack the vital protective equipment that stops us getting infected, and stops others getting infected too. This is dangerous, exhausting work.
Even the best public healthcare systems in the world are struggling to face this virus. Yet we know it is the countries with healthcare that is universal, and publicly provided, that will be best placed to get through this. Yet in most countries, health services are desperately weak and deeply unequal. You can only get treatment if you have money.
This is a global public health emergency bigger than anything humanity has ever seen. Governments all over the world must make a huge investment in scaling up public healthcare now for all their people. Healthcare is a right and should be free.
Rich nations should help pay for this by immediately cancelling the debt payments of developing countries. This will release billions of dollars that can pay for vital healthcare. Many governments are currently spending far more on repaying debts than they do on health. To prevent millions of deaths this injustice has to end now.
We call on the leaders of the world to act now. Act now to make healthcare available and free to all who need it. Act now to cancel the debts of developing countries before it is too late.
Sincerely,