Matthew Kavanagh [email protected]

Director, Center for Global Health Policy & Politics @georgetown
Prof of global health and law

[Matthew Kavanagh [email protected] @MMKavanagh]

US withdrawal from WHO: Has it happened? Are other political actors powerless to prevent it or (if it happens) shape how it affects global health? On both fronts, the answer is no.
My new piece in @ForeignPolicy on danger and opportunity.
A thread...
https://t.co/GASxbjYYAg

[Winnie Byanyima @Winnie_Byanyima]

It is unquestionable that the world is facing more outbreaks — and policy-makers must recognise that inequality is a systemic risk.

Yes, @MMKavanagh, this is an urgent call to action for governments, for global health security.

@ChathamHouse @UNAIDS #InequalityEmergency

[Matthew Kavanagh [email protected] @MMKavanagh]

Why is @mattyglesias just straight up misrepresenting @Janeese4DC platform? Critique her as overambitious, fine, but this is just sillytown...

[Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias]

This encapsulates my problem with George as a YIMBY, "targets" don't build housing — developers build housing! If your whole policy agenda is increasing the regulatory burden on building and operating housing, then zoning changes won't work.

https://t.co/G4pFxcoYQd

[Winnie Byanyima @Winnie_Byanyima]

Health workers on DRC's Ebola frontline are fighting w/too few resources. This is not inevitable, but a failure of solidarity, showing how inequality weakens crisis response. We must invest in strong, community-led health systems—or pay the price in lives.
https://t.co/CQTTqiEG1H

[Winnie Byanyima @Winnie_Byanyima]

How did $200mn ‘vanish’?

[Geoffrey York @geoffreyyork]

Stark warning from MSF: "Never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon. Nobody knows its true scale. New cases are reported daily, yet hundreds of samples remain untested. Border and airport closures delay the arrival of critical aid."
https://t.co/NCKLHqoA6U

[UNAIDS Global @UNAIDS]

UNAIDS ED @Winnie_Byanyima joins an expert panel to reimagine pandemic prevention, preparedness, and resilience — alongside @rosswrite_SW1, Sir @MichaelMarmot, @susancolehaley, and @MMKavanagh.

🗓️27 May | 🕰️14:00 CET

More information: https://t.co/xZCTi4eX3k

[Matthew Kavanagh [email protected] @MMKavanagh]

I’ll be speaking at @ChathamHouse this week at this, join us in London or online Weds https://t.co/Vkdqg6fWc0

[Matthew Kavanagh [email protected] @MMKavanagh]

…because the definitions of pandemic out there would apply to the 2014 Ebola outbreak but then it often doesn’t get called pand when it mostly affects huge geographic area and many countries but mostly in Africa. But that’s a bit of digression from key point 👆

[Matthew Kavanagh [email protected] @MMKavanagh]

This is deep & important—outbreak should not have to reach North America to matter. Potential for wide spread, adds to crisis for Central African comm’ties, that impacts them + the world, and demands global action.
I will say I think the epic/pand line is less helpful…

[Krutika Kuppalli, MD FIDSA @KrutikaKuppalli]

As someone who has worked on #Ebola and other emerging pathogens for most of my career, I do not agree with this.

There is risk for a large regional epidemic in Africa but given how Ebola spreads, this will not become a global pandemic.

[Matthew Kavanagh [email protected] @MMKavanagh]

Gotta say it’s a bit on the nose to have a ship full of wealthy white people and an outbreak that’s actually been controlled dominate global media while a major Ebola outbreak in DRC with cross boarder spread is going unnoticed.
https://t.co/BbwQbm0BXK

[Helen Clark @HelenClarkNZ]

Full marks to @WHO DG @DrTedros for rapid declaration of Public Health Emergency of International Concern following reports of many deaths in #DRC from
#Bundibugyo virus, a strain of #Ebola for which there’s neither a vaccine nor treatment. @TheIndPanel https://t.co/aA8OJIjoiv

[Nomi @Knowmeee]

UK Surgeon @DoctorAmerRaza denying me surgery for “screaming too loud” when I was in pain due to negligence @CromwellHosp

[Nina Schwalbe, PhD @nschwalbe]

I'm grateful to be endorsed by Matthew Kavanagh.

From Georgetown to UNAIDS, Matthew has spent his career making sure global health policy actually delivers for the people it's meant to serve. His charge is clear: we need leaders who treat accountability as the work, not the slogan.

[UNAIDS Global @UNAIDS]

UNAIDS applauds Botswana on fully repealing anti-LGBTQ+ law

More than six years after Botswana’s courts struck down a ban on same-sex intimacy, the government has now formally removed the discriminatory provisions from the law.

UNAIDS statement below: https://t.co/mZnddd1cKd…

[Scott Goldstein @ScottGoldstein]

I wonder what DC voters will think about all the pro Trump folks being anti Janeese and pro Kenyan in a 95 % Democratic city. Only time will tell.

[Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng @drtlaleng]

….and to always being focused and sharp and agile. So much change yet so much remains the same. We owe it to ourselves and the next generation to make global health work for all. Inspired by the @SkollWorldForum week. Aluta!!! @SkollFoundation onwards.

[Matthew Kavanagh [email protected] @MMKavanagh]

Honored to be @SkollFoundation Forum this week at with @drtlaleng talking to change makers, funders, about inequality as a threat to global health security and what we can do about it. Brilliant folks here giving me hope.
@GeorgetownGHPP @GtownSOH

[Skoll Foundation @SkollFoundation]

The 2026 #SkollWF's opening plenary emphasized the importance of dialogue, serving as a reminder that the connections forged at the Skoll World Forum are catalysts for change.

Indigenous storytellers Kynan Tegar and Ana Lucía Ixchiu Hernández opened the plenary with a preview of "A Day on Earth," a participatory documentary filmed simultaneously on Earth Day last year across 26 countries. The film, produced by @IfNotUsThenWho with support from Skoll, captures everyday acts of love for our planet and makes the case that for Indigenous Peoples, every day is Earth Day.

Skoll Foundation President and CEO Marla Blow took the stage next, drawing on the metaphor of mycelium to describe the connections that ground changemakers and enable their work to thrive. In a year of significant disruption, she called on the community to build something new rather than simply restore what was.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos joined @IlwadElman of the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre (@ElmanPeaceHRC) for a conversation moderated by journalist and Africa In the World Founder Dele Olojede. Drawing on decades of lived peacebuilding experience, they explored how to move divided societies toward dialogue, belonging, and reconciliation.

Trevor Noah (@TrevorNoah) and Noubar Afeyan, Founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering (@FlagshipPioneer), turned their attention to artificial intelligence, with its transformative potential, its risks, and the dualities that guide innovation in uncertain times.

To close, Astrid Jorgensen brought her viral sensation Pub Choir (@PubChoir) to the theater, leading delegates through a lively, large-scale singalong—highlighting the remarkable possibilities that emerge when we join together.

Follow along for more from #SkollWF.

[Matthew Kavanagh [email protected] @MMKavanagh]

Why did I just listen to @AubreyNPR talk about the new AHA guidelines and despite being asked several times not explain they contradict what the HHS Secretary says?!? As if he’s just a guy giving his opinion? It’s not just lots of confusing opinions… 🤦‍♂️

[Matthew Kavanagh [email protected] @MMKavanagh]

Good night @Georgetown

[Matthew Kavanagh [email protected] @MMKavanagh]

A bit of a contrast in what it means to show up 🤔 turns out you have real vision and concrete policy to back it up, people turn up with you @Janeese4DC

[K. Travis Ballie @KTravisBallie]

Glad to see both major candidates for Mayor engaging the LGBTQ+ community.

At the end of the day, though, energy is something you cannot manufacture—you can see it in who shows up.

Tnx @Janeese4DC for showing up to multiple PACKED events to vibe w/ your LGBTQ+ fan girlies/folx!