Saying “the virus has found a very unequal world,” UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima warned that COVID-19 will hurt the most vulnerable, including people living with HIV.
In a wide-ranging interview with Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar, Byanyima talked about how the two “colliding epidemics” are playing out, discussed the need for a multilateral approach to the pandemic, and expressed concerns about the possible unequal distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“The right to health has never been more important,” Byanyima said. “You’re not safe until we’re all safe.”
More interviews with humanitarian leaders on COVID-19. Watch:
• How Jan Egeland sees the crisis developing
• Mark Dybul calls for global task force
• Amref Health Africa CEO on the impact on NGO finances
• Former OFDA chief gives Trump administration a ‘D’ on response
• How behavioral science is changing the response
• How Rwanda got ahead of the pandemic curve
Visit our dedicated COVID-19 page for news, job opportunities, and funding insights.
About the author
Raj Kumarraj_devex
Raj Kumar is the President and Editor-in-Chief at Devex, the media platform for the global development community. He is a media leader and former humanitarian council chair for the World Economic Forum and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. His work has led him to more than 50 countries, where he has had the honor to meet many of the aid workers and development professionals who make up the Devex community. He is the author of the book "The Business of Changing the World," a go-to primer on the ideas, people, and technology disrupting the aid industry.
