Sure! Here’s the translation into American English:
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Inequality, according to a recent report from the UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), not only exacerbates the impact of pandemics but also makes them more likely and more lethal. The study, released ahead of the G20 meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, from November 22 to 23, highlights how social and economic gaps are undermining the global ability to tackle health crises.
After two years of research, the report concludes that inequalities, both within and between countries, act as a driver for pandemics. This phenomenon, in turn, deepens social gaps, creating a vicious cycle. This cycle of inequality and pandemic is most intensely manifested in societies where inequalities are pronounced, showing higher mortality rates and less effective responses to health crises. The COVID-19 pandemic served as a clear example of this pattern, though it has also been observed in past crises such as those related to HIV, Ebola, and influenza.
The data reveals that nations with higher levels of inequality recorded significantly higher mortality rates from diseases like COVID-19. For instance, in Brazil, individuals without basic education were several times more likely to die during the pandemic compared to those who completed primary school. In England, those living in overcrowded housing showed notably higher mortality rates.
Moreover, the report notes that international inequalities increase global vulnerability. While high-income countries spent four times more than low-income countries to address COVID-19, the lack of resources in many nations limited their response capacity, allowing the virus to spread uncontrollably. The unequal distribution of vaccines and treatments has contributed to the emergence of resistant variants.
Since the onset of the AIDS pandemic, income inequality has grown in most countries. The COVID-19 crisis accelerated this trend, with 165 million people falling into poverty while the wealthy increased their fortunes by more than 25%. UNAIDS underscores that over half of low-income countries are at risk of a debt crisis, which restricts their ability to invest in health and social protection.
Researcher Monica Geingos, the report’s author, emphasized that inequality is not an inevitable fate but a harmful political choice that threatens everyone’s health. Expert Michael Marmot added that reducing inequalities in housing, work, education, and social protection could decrease the risk of pandemics from their origin.
The report proposes a health security approach based on eliminating international financial barriers, investing in social determinants of health, promoting local medicine production, and including communities in pandemic management. Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate in Economics and co-author of the study, stresses that pandemics are also economic crises, and poor policy decisions exacerbate this situation.
Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director, maintains that the report provides a roadmap for breaking the cycle of inequality, emphasizing that reducing these gaps will not only save lives but also make the world a fairer and safer place. This analysis is particularly relevant as new disease outbreaks, such as avian flu and Mpox, emerge globally. If the roots of inequality are not addressed, the world could become trapped in a cycle of increasingly devastating pandemics.
via: MiMub in Spanish
