A selection of news, resources and opportunities for action and advocacy around women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health

September 2021

We cannot abandon Afghanistan’s women, children, and adolescents now

Rt. Hon. Helen Clark, PMNCH Board Chair
Former Prime Minister, New Zealand

At a government-run maternity clinic in southern Kandahar province, Afghanistan, a woman is scared of losing her unborn child. Wati – pregnant for a fifth time in four years – has already had two miscarriages. "I am afraid I will lose the baby again," she tells an AFP journalist. "I only have permission to leave the house to go to the doctor”.

Her words speak volumes about the ‘new normal’ in Afghanistan – a country where women now need permission from the Taliban to leave the house. Even limited freedom of movement and access to health care, slowly improving over the past 20 years, is no longer a given.

Read Rt. Hon. Helen Clark's full statement on the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan➝ here 

Don't miss the 10th Annual PMNCH Accountability Breakfast: Improving Health Equity in Africa 

Wednesday, 22 September, 1:30-3:00 pm CET/CAT, 07:30-09:00 am EDT

This  year’s annual PMNCH Accountability Breakfast will focus on achieving greater equity for women, children and adolescents in Africa with an emphasis on innovative solutions to addressing injustices and improving well-being.

Discussions will center around the role of  digital technology 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.

Register here

Help shape the discussion: Send in a question you think our panelists should address, or vote/like questions from other participants here. The deadline to submit your ideas is 15 September. 

Accountability Unscripted: The After Show

Wednesday, 22 September, 03:00- 4:00 pm CEST/ 09:00-10:00 am EDT

Join this year’s new event, Accountability Unscripted! Immediately following the PMNCH Accountability Breakfast, White Ribbon Alliance will host a lively after show moderated by BBC Africa's Mercy Juma. This event will invite civil society commentators to share their “unscripted” takes on discussions from the main stage and how it aligns with what they are seeing in their countries. Audience members will be invited to offer their insights as well—bring your ideas and add your voice to the call for greater accountability for people, everywhere! Space is limited; register to join➝ here

Call for applications: New opportunities for PMNCH partner engagement 

PMNCH is pleased to share current opportunities for members to engage and contribute to PMNCH's advocacy efforts for women's, children's and adolescents' health and well-being:

1. Call for nominations: members of the Strategic Advocacy Committee Reference Group. Learn more ➝  here 
2. Extension of the call for nominations: NGO Steering Committee. Learn more ➝ here 

We welcome nominations from all our members – please ensure you don’t miss the deadline and that you have familiarized yourself fully with the Terms of Reference before applying.

This month, I’m proud to spotlight Transform Health and Digital Health Week.

PMNCH, together with partners such as Fondation Botnar, PATH, BRAC, Medicus Mundi, JHPiego, Terre des hommes and  several others, is a proud founding member of Transform Health, a coalition of organizations, individuals and institutions committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage through the use of digital technologies and data. We are committed to promoting the perspectives and leadership of youth, women and marginalized groups in all aspects of our work for equitable and affordable access to high-quality healthcare

Transform Health is supporting the launch of the first Digital Health Week at a global scale which will take place from 29 November until 03 December 2021 with a focus on how digital technology and the use of data can help governments, in collaboration with professional bodies, the private sector, civil society, community groups and others, achieve universal healthcare. Participating in Digital Health Week is an opportunity to have your organization’s advocacy, launches and events made visible in this global moment alongside hundreds of allied organizations. 

Learn about the launch of the  Digital Health Week website during the UN General Assembly and find out how to get involved ➝ here

How George Floyd and COVID‑19 are highlighting structural inequities for vulnerable women, children and adolescents

PMNCH’s Kadi Toure et al. reflect on how George Floyd and COVID‑19 are highlighting structural inequities that remain a root cause for poor health outcomes for vulnerable women, children and adolescents. Read➝ here 

Mind the gap: Why integrating rural youth in leadership positions is the need of the hour

The world needs to hear the unheard voices and struggles of rural youth, and should give them equal rights and opportunities to be at the forefront of change. Nojus Saad, Vice Chair of the Adolescents and Youth Constituency at PMNCH, argues for engaging rural youth as a means to bridging the substantial rural-urban divide that creates health and rights disparities. Read ➝ here

The world’s most vulnerable people are suffering and dying from effects of the “shadow pandemic”

The international community must recommit to the health of women, children, and adolescents, write Helen Clark, Board Chair of PMNCH and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia and newly appointed Global advocate for Every Woman Every Child. Read ➝ here

Q&A: Estonian President's global birth registration plans

In this interview with Devex, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid explains why ensuring that every newborn child is registered is a top priority in her role of global advocate for Every Woman Every Child. She also reflects on how her new role will help push the agenda forward in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Read ➝ here

More than honour, humanitarian health-care workers need life-saving protection

Settings for humanitarian health care workers have become increasingly complex: at the crossroads of conflict, social and economic fragility, a global pandemic, and a growing climate crisis. PMNCH’s  Evidence and Knowledge lead, Etienne Langlois et al. write that more than honour, humanitarian health care workers need life-saving protection, including COVID-19 vaccines. Read ➝ here 

Health for All Advocacy Toolkit 

The Health for All Advocacy Toolkit,  is a new resource from the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC2030, that provides national-level civil society organizations (CSOs) and health networks with the necessary resources to kick-start advocacy initiatives on universal health coverage (UHC). Visit➝ here

Progress on Childhood Pneumonia 2017 – 2021

This new report captures the achievements and learnings from Save the Children’s work to tackle childhood pneumonia, and  provides a perspective on the essential action that needs to continue  to deliver on the ambition of ending preventable childhood pneumonia deaths by 2030, and ultimately the SDG ambition of ending preventable childhood deaths. Read➝ here

Liberia’s civil society and youth organizations commit to keep their government accountable during COVID-19 response

More than 20 Liberian community leaders came together last month with a clear goal in mind: to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations in their influence on the implementation of their government’s commitment to the PMNCH Call to Action on COVID-19. The 2-day workshop was organized by the Public Health Initiative Liberia and supported by PMNCH. Outcomes➝ here

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