We are gearing up for the most important convening in global health of the year, the 77th World Health Assembly (#WHA77)—taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 27th to June 1st. This year, key topics at WHA77 include universal health coverage; pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response; and climate change, pollution, and health. 

We invite you to join us—and our partners across governments, private sector, academia, and civil society—in advocating for greater investment in the health workforce and in women’s leadership in climate and health.

If you’re going to be on the ground in Geneva, we’d love to meet with you in person. Please email us to get in touch with our delegation. Whether you’re attending WHA77 in person or virtually, follow #PathfinderAtWHA77 on social media for updates.

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SIDE EVENT
Innovate, Invest, Empower, and Protect: Shaping the Future of the Health Workforce Worldwide

Date: Monday, May 27, 2024 | Time: 8:00 – 12:00 CEST
Where: Warwick Hotel, Geneva, Switzerland 
Co-hosts: Frontline Health Workers Coalition, CARE USA, Johnson & Johnson, Living Goods, Pathfinder International, Project HOPE, SEED Global Health, and Smile Train

Join us for insightful panel discussions on best practices, locally led solutions, and partnerships that help create an enabling environment for health workers. Hear from globally recognized thought leaders on leveraging increased investments in the health workforce to deliver on global commitments alongside examples of projects and partnerships that have led to better health outcomes and a stronger pipeline of health workers. Keynote remarks and two high-level panel discussions will be followed by an interactive working session.

This event will be a highlight in the week’s activities to explore the investments needed to translate global commitments to strengthen the health workforce at the country level and catalyze collaboration across sectors and among different partners to implement solutions. View and download the event program and speaker bios!

Special Guests

• Dr. Kenneth G. Ronquillo, Undersecretary of Health, Republic of the Philippines
• Michele Sumilas, Assistant to the Administrator, Bureau for Planning, Learning and Resource Management, USAID

Conversation panel 1: Best practices and locally-led solutions for creating an enabling environment for health workers: compensation, training, integration, empowerment 

Moderator, Crystal Lander, Executive Vice President, Pathfinder International

• Paul Marsden, Senior Health Workforce Specialist, World Health Organization
• Chikwe Mbweeda, Country Director, CARE Zambia
• Dr. Uche Ralph Opara, Chief Health Officer, Project HOPE
• Vicky Reed, Interim Executive Director, Partners in Health, Sierra Leone 

Conversation panel 2: Supporting and protecting health workers through partnerships and innovation 

Moderator:  Jed Meline, Director Policy & Advocacy, Project Hope 

• Dr. Carlos Castillejos, Global Head, Medical & Patient Assistance Solutions, Global Health Equity, Johnson & Johnson
• Priya Basu, Executive Head, The Pandemic Fund
• Irene Atuhairwe, Country Director, Uganda, Seed Global Health  
• Michelle Erwee, Global Head of Access to Medicines, Takeda

Remarks

• Susannah Schaefer, President and CEO, Smile Train
• Jules Souleymane Gaye, Country Director, Burkina Faso, Living Goods
• Dr. Hanna B Demeke, Nurse Epidemiologist, NLI, PEPFAR
• Madhu Deshmukh, Vice President Program Strategy and Innovations, CARE USA

SIDE EVENT
Public-Private Partnerships for Health System Strengthening   

Date: Monday, May 27, 2024 | Time: 17:00 – 19:00 CEST 
Where: Hôtel Royal, Geneva, Switzerland 

This WHA77 side event will highlight ways the public and private sectors can work together to engage with different stakeholders to strengthen health systems, at all levels, to support those who are most in need.   

We will showcase the collaboration between governments, businesses, civil society organizations and foundations to design successful and scalable health solutions. It all starts with community engagement and knowledge of the system landscape.   

On the panel following the keynote address, representatives from NGOs and the private sector will share success stories and exchange learnings, knowledge, and recommendations for working in synergy towards stronger health systems. What does it take to develop, implement and scale up successful nationwide programs? What does a successful public-private partnership look like?  What does it take to secure government leadership and commitment? View and download the event program and speaker bios!

Keynote Address

• Hon. Dr. Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, Minister of Health, Burkina Faso

Speakers

• Mohammed Abdulaziz, Head, Division of Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC
• Idah Asin, Head of Government Affairs and Policy, Sub-Saharan Africa, Johnson & Johnson
• Ginette Hounkanrin, Burkina Faso Country Director, Pathfinder (moderator)
• Emily Gibbons, Senior Director, International Government Affairs & Policy, Gilead Sciences
• Joseph Komwihangiro, Tanzania Country Director, Pathfinder
• Ruth Musila, Lead, Global Policy & Industry Partnerships, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
• Claudia Shilumani, Vice President, Partnerships & Impact, Village Reach

SIDE EVENT
Where Next on Gender Equal UHC

Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2024 | Time: 14:00 – 15:00 CEST
Where: International Geneva Welcome Centre

Join the Alliance for Gender Equality and UHC for a side event on advocating for gender-responsive health systems as a rights & equity issue, highlighting the critical role of civil society in advocacy. Pathfinder’s Ginette Hounkanrin, Country Director, Burkina Faso, will participate on the panel.

SIDE EVENT
Commitment to Action: Centering Health in Climate Action Plans

Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024 | Time: 13:30 – 16:00 CEST
Where: Please RSVP for venue location
Host: Rwanda’s Ministry of Health and Partners
Partners: Pathfinder, CHAI, Living Goods, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, Partners in Health, University of Minnesota, University of Global Health Equity, Yale University, and Devex

Join us for an in-person panel discussion of African health and environmental leaders who will share models and approaches for sustaining and strengthening health systems through the climate crisis. The Rwanda’s Ministry of Health and partners will bring together governments, donors, and civil society organizations to coordinate advocacy efforts and push promises and declarations into action. 

Together, we will share successful government models for climate action, highlight promising multisectoral innovations currently in implementation, and provide a forum for the many diverse actors among the climate sector to learn from one another. Of particular interest is the leadership that women and marginalized communities have in mitigating climate change risk and contributing to community resilience in populations most impacted by the climate crisis.  View and download the speaker bios!

Confirmed Speakers

• Keynote Address: H.E James Ngango, Ambassador-designate of Rwanda to Switzerland and permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the United Nations, in Geneva
• Welcome: Crystal Lander, Executive Vice-President, Pathfinder
• Moderator: Mrs. Kate Warren, DEVEX Executive Vice President

Panel 1 – Government

• Mrs. Natasha Museba, Lead Negotiator Climate and Health, LDC Group
• Ms. Amanda Rurangwa,  Chief Technical Advisor, Rwanda Ministry of Health
• Dr. Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for the Environment, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Panel 2 – Civil Society

• Mrs. Irene Atuhairwe, Uganda Country Director, Seed Global Health
• Dr. Phaedra Henley, Director of the Center for One Health, UGHE
• Mr. Joseph Komwihangiro, Tanzania Country Director, Pathfinder
• Dr. Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director & Secretary to the Continental Executive Board 

Closing Remarks: Benson Simba, Head of Health and Climate Change Unit, Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance

Note: Space is limited for this in-person event. If you are interested in participating, please RSVP using the form below.

SIDE EVENT
Beyond Empowerment: Next Steps for Women’s Leadership in Global Health

Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024 | Time: 18:00 – 20:00 CEST
Where: Intercontinental Hotel, Geneva, Switzerland

As the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) week closes, Pathfinder and Women Deliver invite women leaders and allies to network and discuss the gender leadership gap in global health and what needs to be done to enable diverse women to lead and redress gender inequality in global health leadership.

This networking reception will be an opportunity to hear from diverse voices and to engage in open dialogue, fostering meaningful connections and collaborative opportunities with others in the space.

We will discuss how having more women in leadership means addressing more directly the growing pushback on gender equality and women’s rights and the interconnected challenges all of us face including climate change, weak health systems, and lack of opportunities to earn a living.

Featuring Honorable Ummy Ally Mwalimu, Tanzania Minister of Health, Loyce Pace, US Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs, Crystal Lander, Pathfinder Executive Vice President, and women leaders in government, civil society, the private sector, and multilateral organizations.

Let’s join together to call for gender equal leadership in global health, increased visibility of women working in health and to mobilize men to lean out and step up as allies!

Featured Guests

• Honorable Ummy Ally Mwalimu, Tanzania Minister of Health
• Loyce Pace, Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs, US Department of Health and Human Services
• Crystal Lander, Executive Vice President, Pathfinder

Meet the Pathfinder Delegation