On September 23, the `One by One Conference’ will take place on the sidelines of the UNGA. The Conference features African Heads of State, African Union leaders, Former Presidents, Ministers of Health, Agriculture, and Finance from across Africa to discuss how to best drive action on Universal Health Coverage in the context of increasing pressure on natural resources as a result of climate change on the continent.
This Conference, hosted by the African Union, the Access Challenge, and The Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation, is meant to follow up on and compliment discussions held during two UN High Level Meetings – one on UHC and one on Climate Action.
The conference will be unique in its focus on the policy intersection between health and “environmental” imperatives like access to clean air, health and nutritious food. The Conference will focus attention on the imperative of leaders to understand the drive for UHC in the context of the limits imposed by climate change. The program will highlight leaders who are driving progress towards UHC from nontraditional sectors like water, sanitation, air and food systems and will identify opportunities for partnership between such nontraditional partners.
The Conference features Funding Commitment Declarations and an Awards Ceremony, highlighting the leadership of the African Union and several Heads of State who are paving the way towards UHC in Africa. UHC leadership awards will be presented to South Africa for H.E. Ramaphosa’s bold actions, to Kenya for H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta’s commitment, to Mali for H.E. Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta’s leadership on national health reform, a nd to Ethiopia for H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde’s work on inclusive health coverage.
Speakers are expected to include: H.E. Amira El Fadil, AU Commissioner of Social Affairs, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Former Prime Minister of Norway and member of The Elders, H.E. Dr. Jakaya M. Kikwete, Former President of Tanzania, and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO.
A group of donors including KOICA, USAID, DFID, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and Merck will make a formal financial presentation of USD $29 million dollars to WHO AFRO to support their Neglected Tropical Disease elimination work.
The Executive Director, Yannick Glemarec, of the Green Climate Fund will speak to the significant work the fund is doing towards global climate and health interventions. “The climate crisis is a major threat to human health and well-being, particularly in developing countries. Prevention, adaption, and reduced emissions can help protect vulnerable communities by addressing threats to food and water security, sanitation, and even air quality.”
“The drive for Universal Health Coverage is not about meeting the needs of one mother, it is about enabling African leaders to meet the needs of all mothers for many generations to come. This campaign is about building sustainable health systems with staffed and stocked health centers in every community in Africa.” H.E. Amira El Fadil, AU Commissioner for Social Affairs
