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Join the Frontline Health Workers Coalition During #UNGA79

On September 24, 2024, alongside the UN General Assembly, we'll host Building Health Workforce Resilience: Preparing for Tomorrow’s Climate and Health Crises.


Pandemics, climate change, chronic disease, and conflict have strained health systems, and the health workforce is constantly under pressure to respond to multiple health crises simultaneously. All cadres of health workersnurses, community health workers, physicians, pharmacists, and othersare needed to effectively address the changing needs of patients from the health facility to the last mile. Furthermore, the health of health workers themselves is often compromised due to lack of protections, inadequate training, and burnout.  

The Frontline Health Workers Coalition will host an advocacy event during the UN General Assembly to highlight partnerships and investments that enable all cadres of health workers to meet routine health needs and respond to crises. 

If health workers are the backbone of the health system, then to build health systems that are better prepared for crises requires a robust, more resilient health workforce. That's why the Frontline Health Workers Coalition and our members will be advocating during the UN General Assembly and to world leaders and decisionmakers gathering in New York. 

Join us on September 24.

Join us for our event on September 24 to show how a resilient, multidisciplinary health workforce is better prepared and more able to respond to the stressors to health systems. 

Speakersincluding health workers and experts from NGOs, governments, donors, and multilateral partnerswill highlight examples of collaborative partnerships and examine long-term, sustainable investments in locally-led and health worker-informed solutions that strengthen the ability of all cadres of health workers to not only meet the day-to-day health needs of communities through integrated care, but especially enable them to pivot to be better prepared for, respond to and adapt to crisis situations. 

Hosted by the Frontline Health Workers Coalition and our members CARE USA, Chemonics, IntraHealth International, Johnson & Johnson, Pathfinder International, Project HOPE, Living Goods, Smile Train, and Seed Global Health, this high-level event will feature keynote remarks, an exciting panel discussion, and networking opportunities. 

Find more information and register here. 

Program and confirmed speakers

Welcome 

  • Tina Flores, Director, Frontline Health Workers Coalition, IntraHealth International

Framing remarks 

  • Aparajita Ramakrishnan, Director, Family Planning, Gates Foundation

Fireside Chat: The Time is Now 

  • Dr. Vanessa Kerry, Co-Founder and CEO, Seed Global Health and Special Envoy Climate Change and Health, World Health Organization
  • Crystal Lander, Executive Vice President, Pathfinder International

Keynote Remarks

  • Hon. Dr. Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, Minister of Health, Burkina Faso  
  • Hon. Minister Yolanda Awel Deng, Minister of Health, South Sudan
  • Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire, Undersecretary of Health, Republic of the Philippines
  • Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO, Gavi 

Panel: Integrating Resilience into Primary Care

  • Rachel Deussom, Health Practice Senior Director, Chemonics International, moderator
  • Dr. Mariia Kholostenko, Medical Coordinator, Project HOPE Ukraine 
  • Alice Lin Fabiano, Global Head, Social Impact & Partnerships, Global Health Equity, 
    Johnson & Johnson 
  • Thomas Opiyo Onyango, Country Director, Living Goods Kenya
  • Erin Stieber, Chief Programs Officer, Smile Train 

Fireside Chat: Health Workers Save Lives

  • Ritu Sharma, Vice President, U.S. Programs and Policy Advocacy, CARE USA
  • Ramatu Jalloh, Community Health Worker, Sierra Leone
  • Dr. Bassim Birkland, Seed Global Health Country Director, Zambia 

Closing