For the first time since 2019, this week saw delegations from across the world come to Geneva, Switzerland, to participate in the 75th World Health Assembly. While the previous two years have been held virtually, this has been a first opportunity to gather in person – even if under strict infection prevention and control measures.
The Alliance has been involved in multiple elements of this year’s gathering. It kicked off on Sunday, 22 May, with the Walk the Talk event. Dr Abdul Ghaffar, the Executive Director of the Alliance, walked the three kilometers around Geneva with WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other invited guests, including the First Lady of Croatia, H.E. Prof Dr Sanja Musić Milanović.
As part of the formal proceedings of the Assembly, meetings are held throughout the week in two committees: Committee A discusses technical and health issues, and Committee B considers financial and management issues. This year, Dr Aku Kwamie from the Alliance Secretariat, assisted Committee A.
Beyond the Assembly itself, there are usually a number of side events held. The Alliance was honoured to co-sponsor two such events.
The first, Africa leading the world: Improving primary health care through embedded implementation research, was held in conjunction with the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. This event focused on the ten-year African Health Initiative and its work on health systems strengthening through shifting cultures toward greater evidence use. One participant from Ghana, Dr Koku Awoonor-Williams, noted that, “changing the culture at the local level was critical. They were collecting data but had a mindset that it was to be used by someone at the national level. Working with them to understand and utilise their own data was critical.” Dr Abdul Ghaffar from the Alliance stressed that embedding implementation research into ways of working helps foster learning health systems, noting that this research is a “foundation stone” for learning by providing information about programme and policy actions, by informing action and changes to programmes and by involving many actors in deliberation on research priorities, research processes and the utilization of research findings.
The second side event, From resolution to action: investing in the health and care workforce, was held in collaboration with the Federal Government of Ethiopia, the Frontline Health Workers Coalition, IntraHealth International and Seed Global Health. The event convened Member States and relevant partners on what is needed to protect, safeguard, and invest in the health and care workforce as part of broader activities and research on health systems.