Improving Health Equity in Africa
Wednesday, 22 September 2021
7:30-9:00 am EDT, 1:30-3:00 pm CET
This year’s annual PMNCH Accountability Breakfast focuses on achieving greater equity for women, children and adolescents in Africa.
More than two-thirds of the world’s maternal deaths occur in the Sub-Saharan region, as well as more than half of child deaths globally. Almost one in five women in Sub-Saharan Africa face unmet need for family planning. Now in the COVID-19 era, injustices have been further accentuated. Less than 3% of adults in Africa are fully vaccinated, and 75% of the world’s vaccination supply is held by only 10 countries – none in Africa.
The 2021 PMNCH Accountability Breakfast will focus on innovative solutions to addressing injustices and improving well-being in sub-Saharan Africa, including through new country-led financing, policy and service delivery commitments. These include digital solutions for improved accountability and action, as well as youth-led action to demand universal health coverage and greater citizen participation in line with the seven asks of the PMNCH Call to Action on COVID-19 and the Call to Action on Adolescent Well-Being.
Moderator: Ms Mercy Juma, BBC News Africa
Video messages:
- Mumbi Macharia, Spoken-word Poet
- Joy Phumaphi, Executive Secretary, Africa Leaders Malaria Alliance, Co-Chair, PMNCH Partner Engagement in Countries Committee
Moderator: Rt.Hon. Helen Clark, PMNCH Board Chair
Panelists:
- Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister of Health, Ghana
- Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, UNAIDS
- Githinji Gitahi, Global CEO AMREF Health Africa, Co-Chair PMNCH Strategic Advocacy Committee
- Natasha Kaoma, CEO, Copper Rose, Zambia
Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia, UN SG’s Global Advocate for Every Woman Every Child
08:21-08:31, Launch of new commitments
Video from new country commitments in response to the PMNCH Call to Action on COVID-19
Malawi:
- Chrissie Kanyasho Kalamula, MP, Deputy Minister of Health, Malawi
- Hester Nyasulu, White Ribbon Alliance Malawi
- Bertha Ndebele, Member of Parliament for Balaka West, Malawi
South Africa:
- Sibongiseni Maxwell Dhlomo, Deputy Minister of Health, South Africa
- Joan van Dyk, Senior Journalist, Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism
- Levi Singh, Youth Strategy Officer, SRHR Africa Trust
Elhadj As Sy, Board Chair, Kofi Annan Foundation
New this year is “Accountability Unscripted: The Accountability Breakfast After-Show,” coordinated by the White Ribbon Alliance and also moderated by Mercy Juma. This special post-Breakfast event will focus on grassroots and activist voices, bringing forward ideas and discussion about how the main stage discussion aligns with realities on the ground, and what needs to happen for greater accountability for people everywhere.
You must register separately for this event here.
The State of Universal Health Coverage in Africa - Report of the Africa Health Agenda International Conference Commission
* Amref's Research Study: Evidence on The Effects Of COVID-19 Pandemic on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and Child, Early and Forced Marriages: The Case of Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Senegal
*Amref Health Africa Global Youth and Adolescent Strategy 2021-2022
* Amref's Global statement on COVID -19 Tools including Vaccine Equity
* Merck for Mother's new global initiative, Strengthening Systems for Safer Childbirth. More information can be found here .
* Merck for Mother's content series that celebrates 10 years of progress: Inspired by Motherhood
* Country profiles on Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health indicators
* What Women Want interactive dashboard - The groundbreaking What Women Want campaign asked women and girls around the world one simple question: What is your one request for quality reproductive and maternal healthcare service?
* PMNCH's Advocacy Brief – Rise, Respond, Recover: Renewing progress on women’s, children’s and adolescents’
health in the era of COVID-19
Kersti Kaljulaid
Former President of Estonia, the UN Secretary-General’s Global Advocate for Every Woman Every Child
Helen Clark
PMNCH Board Chair and former Prime Minister of New Zealand
Kwaku Agyeman-Manu
Minister of Health, Ghana
Bertha Ndebele
Member of Parliament for Balaka West
Chrissie Kanyasho Kalamula
MP, Deputy Minister of Health, Malawi
Sibongiseni Maxwell Dhlomo
Deputy Minister of Health, South Africa
Winnie Byanyima
Executive Director, UNAIDS
Group Chief Executive Officer, Amref Health Africa & Co-Chair, PMNCH Strategic Advocacy Committee
Elhadj As Sy
Board Chair, Kofi Annan Foundation
Hester Nyasulu
White Ribbon Alliance Malawi
Joan van Dyk
Senior Journalist, Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism
Levi Singh
Youth Strategy Officer, SRHR Africa Trust
Mercy Juma
BBC Africa News