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Event recording
Governments must now “radically reimagine global health,” putting women, children and adolescents at the centre of efforts or else risk rollbacks across multiple development gains. That was the overarching message of Renewing the Promise for Women, Children and Adolescents, a high-level event convened by President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa and held on the sidelines of the United Nations’ General Assembly (UNGA) on 18 September 2023.
"Women, children and adolescents face escalating challenges to their health and well-being," said President Ramaphosa.
As it stands, 1.2 million children are living in multidimensional poverty, over 35 million children are suffering from wasting and 14,000 die each day from preventable diseases.
The New York event set heads of state and government around the world a powerful challenge; to join hands in the face of COVID-19, climate change, cost of living rises, and expanding conflicts in the world.
“If we secure the health of every woman, child and adolescent, we will fundamentally improve the health and well-being of all humanity,” said Ramaphosa. “We will lift millions of people out of poverty and advance the cause of human progress.”
The President underlined the value of leadership at the highest level. “As Heads of State, we can provide leadership and inspire ambitious action. We have the convening power to mobilize our peers and advance policies, programmes and financing initiatives for improved outcomes. The leaders of BRICS and G20 countries are particularly well-positioned to advance progress for the most vulnerable women, children and adolescents.”
In his comments, the President also underlined how investing in interventions for women, child and adolescent health yields social and economic benefits that continue throughout life and for generations to come. “If, between now and 2035, we were to invest $5 per person per year in health systems and high-impact health interventions for women and children in high-burden countries, the value of the economic and social benefits would be nine times greater than that amount,” he said.
The South African leader warmly welcomed all leaders to join his Global Leaders Network, initiated earlier this year with the support of PMNCH, and chaired by the Rt Hon. Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, who moderated the UNGA event. The network convenes various heads of state who advocate for countries to increase their investment, strengthen their policy directives, and enhance their service delivery for the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents. “With President Ramaphosa’s leadership, we hope to make something big of this network,” Clark said.
That call was echoed by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, who joined the stage. “We need to be very frank with each other because these problems have always been in our world and the only way through is to gather through this shared commitment,” she said. “We need to do more and we need to do it faster… Words are not enough.”
Saima Wazed, global champion for public health, spoke on behalf of her mother, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh, to share her country’s experience of rapid progress with targeted policies and financial commitment. “We express our continued commitment to women, children and adolescents,” she concluded.
Other UN leaders joined political champions at the event to express solidarity and appreciation. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, who hosted the event at UNICEF House, delivered opening remarks on behalf of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Russell highlighted the urgent need to expand access to primary health, to support community health workers, and to secure sustained funding. “Every dollar we invest in [women’s, children’s and adolescents’] health and well-being yields huge societal and economic benefits for everyone.”
Winnie Byanima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, and Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, highlighted how multi-stakeholder partnerships, in supporting government leadership, are essential to closing equity gaps and ensuring the experiences and voices of women, children and adolescents are heard. "The world committed to progress with the SDGs, but we are nowhere near our targets," said Kanem. "Stagnating is happening, and in fact, maternal mortality is even on the rise in some places."
Indeed, UNICEF youth advocate Hiris Jamal of Mozambique illustrated the promise and potential of youth voices and youth leadership in tackling these challenges. Jamal told a captivated room: “We need more information, because information is power… Adults, it’s your time to change your ways… The health and rights of women and children are in danger like never before.”