Washington, D.C. (October 2, 2024) – Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced a collaborative effort with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Foundation to expand support for health workers across Latin America and the Caribbean. The announcement took place during a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the 61st Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
“Health workers—especially nurses and community health workers—are the backbone of our health systems, but in many places, workforces are strained and face challenges delivering care in their communities,” said Vanessa Broadhurst, Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs, Johnson & Johnson. “Through these efforts, we can empower health workers with the career support and training needed to strengthen health systems and close the gap between communities and care.”
Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the collaborative effort will leverage the strengths of both organizations to improve health worker training and reach, create career opportunities that support a diverse health workforce, and help strengthen institutions to better meet the needs of their communities. Through these approaches, the work will help expand the skilled health workforce to better deliver quality health care across the region, starting in Brazil and Colombia.
The joint commitment will advance the efforts of the Americas Health Corps (AHC), which was launched by the U.S. Government and PAHO in 2022 as a direct response to the shortage of health workers in the region, exacerbated by mass resignations and outmigration during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, it has trained 236,000 healthcare workers in 22 countries.
“Establishing a strong and well-trained workforce is the foundation of our work to increase access to equitable care and protect communities from health threats,” said Atul Gawande, Assistant Administrator, Global Health, USAID. “Leveraging the reach, strength and expertise of collaborators including Johnson & Johnson and the J&J Foundation, we can help grow and strengthen a workforce that is equipped to support healthier communities.”
Across Latin America and the Caribbean, there is a shortage of health workers, leaving many communities without access to essential health services.i This impact is especially acute among community health workers who are often from the very communities they serve and understand the cultural needs and nuances to bring people into care.
“We are incredibly proud to collaborate with USAID and the J&J Foundation in Latin America,” said Bruno Costa Gabriel, International Vice President, Latin America, Johnson & Johnson. “Working together, we aim to increase the capabilities of health workers in our region so that ultimately patients can receive better care.”
Johnson & Johnson’s Commitment to Health Equity
Healthcare is advancing at a rapid pace, yet significant gaps in access to quality care persist. At J&J, we are on a mission to advance equitable access to quality care through championing nurses and community health workers and enabling community-centered and culturally conscious care. We do this by collaborating with those closest to the challenge to connect more people to care. Learn more at www.jnj.com/global-health-equity.
About Johnson & Johnson Foundation
The Johnson & Johnson Foundation is a registered charitable organization that reflects the commitment of Johnson & Johnson to create a world without health inequities by closing the gaps between communities and the care they need. Funded solely by Johnson & Johnson, the Foundation operates worldwide as Johnson & Johnson Foundation US (founded 1953) and Johnson & Johnson Foundation Scotland (founded 2007). These independent entities support both global and in-country partnerships and community-led initiatives to champion health workers, especially nurses and community health workers, and advance access to quality healthcare.
About Johnson & Johnson
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com.
Footnote
i PAHO. The Americas has a shortfall of 600,000 health professionals, affecting access to health in rural and underserved areas https://www.paho.org/en/news/27-5-2022-americas-has-shortfall-600000-health-professionals-affecting-access-health-rural-and. Last Accessed: September 26
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