Securing the health of every woman, child and adolescent

24 September 2024 15:30 – 16:30 ET
Ford Foundation, New York, NY, USA & Virtual

Political leadership to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

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As Heads of State and Government gather for the 79th United Nations General Assembly at the Summit for the Future, this event led by HE President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Chair of the Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, will issue a call for action to address key challenges and rising opportunities to accelerate action in the final five years to the 2030 SDGs.

Event summary

As Heads of State and Government gathered for the 79th UNGA, His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Chair of the Global Leaders Network for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health (GLN) hosted and PMNCH organized the GLN event "Securing the health of every woman, child and adolescent: Political leadership to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals".

The event saw the extraordinary participation of four Heads of State - H.E. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, H.E. Dr William Samoei Ruto, President of Kenya, H.E. Mr Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr, President of Liberia, and H.E. Mr Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwaand, Prime Minister of Tanzania - and two Ministers - Hon. Dr. Ibrahima Sy, Minister of Health of Senegal and Hon. Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health of Sierra Leone - who delivered interventions on behalf of their Heads of State, and all three principals of UN Agencies with the presence of Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA, Catherine Russell, UNICEF and Dr. Tedros, WHO.

PMNCH NGO constituency supported the effort with a statement urging the Heads of State and Government “to leave a lasting legacy of health security for women, children and adolescents”. A total of 14 ministers were in attendance in the room as well as numerous dignitaries and participants across constituencies. The event described as "extraordinary" by many presented a call to action to address key challenges and raising opportunities to accelerate action for women’s, children’s and adolescents health, including protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights, safe abortion.  Support for the GLN initiative chaired by HE President Ramaphosa has now been expressed by the following Heads of State: Denmark, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Tanzania.

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