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

July 2023

The 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign rallies youth in India

The 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign took center stage in New Delhi, India, with a series of impactful G20-related events in June. An energizing ‘Raahgiri’ street day, hosted by the FIA Foundation, Raahgiri Foundation, as well as PMNCH and other partners, raised awareness on adolescent well-being. This vibrant event was followed by a G20 townhall organized by India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with PMNCH, uniting over 300 young advocates, ministers and experts to share knowledge and emphasize multi-sectoral partnerships and meaningful youth engagement.

Learn more here

India hosts the 31st PMNCH Board meeting

PMNCH held its 31st Board meeting in New Delhi, India, from June 21-22. This was the first in-person Board meeting since 2019. The meeting focused on strategic actions related to key topics, including the impact of climate change on women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health (WCAH); G20 and G7 engagement to strengthen policy and financing commitment; cross-constituency mobilization for adolescent well-being, including in relation to the planning of the Global Forum for Adolescents; and accelerated implementation of WCAH commitments at country level.

Find more information here and read an interview with PMNCH Board Chair, Rt Hon Helen Clark here, about the Global Forum for Adolescents.

The 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign update

In June, PMNCH teamed up with White Ribbon Alliance UK to mobilize young voices at the Glastonbury Festival. Joining over 500,000 young people worldwide, festival-goers shared their vision for health and well-being through the 'What Young People Want' initiative.

Discover more opportunities to engage further, including participating in our Art for Well-being competition! Stay informed about the 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign and the upcoming Global Forum for Adolescents in October.

Read the 1.8 newsletter here for all the exciting updates.

Letter to the Editor: Rt. Hon. Helen Clark on maternal and newborn care in the New York Times

Renowned writer Nicholas Kristof dedicated his New York Times column in early June to Sierra Leone, acknowledging the country's strides in improving maternal and child health and reducing extreme poverty. In response, Rt. Hon. Helen Clark, PMNCH's Board Chair, wrote a letter to the editor commending the recognition while also emphasizing that progress in maternal health remains delicate, especially in the face of ongoing crises due to COVID-19, climate change and conflict settings.

To read Nicholas Kristof’s article, click here and for Helen Clark's letter to the editor here.

BMJ Opinion: Stalled global progress on preventable maternal deaths needs renewed focus and action

In an article for the British Medical Journal, Dr. Flavia Bustreo, Chair of the PMNCH Governance and Ethics Committee, and five other medical professionals, shed light on the impact of pandemic setbacks on addressing preventable maternal mortality and emphasize the urgent need for increased investment.

Read the full article here and join the call for governments to prioritize this crucial issue.

Updated Kangaroo Mother Care content on the Implementation Toolkit

Following the latest recommendations on Kangaroo Mother Care by the World Health Organization, the KMC section of the Implementation Toolkit website has been updated to reflect the new guidelines on Small and Sick Newborn Care (SSNC). Access valuable resources such as the WHO Global Position Paper on KMC and implementation strategies for the scale-up of KMC in different country contexts. Emphasizing zero separation between mothers and babies after birth, these resources support the paradigm shift in SSNC.

Learn more here

Launch of the Nurturing Care Framework Progress Report 2018-2023: Reflections and Looking Forward

Five years after the launch of the Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development: A Framework to Help Children Survive and Thrive to Transform Health and Human Potential by WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank Group, PMNCH, and ECDAN, it's time to evaluate the roadmap's adoption by governments and partners and reflect on the lessons learned and future steps in early childhood development.

Learn more here.

She Soars podcast episode: climate change, sexual health and rights and young people

Tune in to the latest episode of CARE Canada's podcast, She Soars, featuring Giulia Gasparri, PMNCH's Project Officer. In this engaging discussion, Giulia explores the connection between climate change and sexual health and rights, and sheds light on young people's concerns in the face of climate change and its disproportionate impact on their generation.

Listen to the full episode here.

Pioneering change: Global Congress on Implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes

The Global Congress on the Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (BMS) convened in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 20-22, 2023. With the active involvement of approximately 130 countries and partners, including PMNCH, this landmark event, hosted by WHO and UNICEF, focused on developing strategies to end unethical marketing practices related to breast-milk substitutes and establishing the foundation for responsible, globally recognized standards.

For further insights, access here.

Deliver the Future: Global Financing Facility Resource Mobilization Campaign 2023

With stalled progress and crises jeopardizing the health, rights and opportunities of women – the governments of Côte d’Ivoire, Germany and the Netherlands, together with the World Bank, launched the ‘Deliver the Future’ fundraising campaign in support of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF). The goal is to to promote investment in health benefitting for more than 250 million women, children and adolescents.

Learn more here.

FIA Foundation: Promoting safe, sustainable, and healthy mobility for all

This month, it’s a privilege to spotlight the remarkable work of the FIA Foundation, a key partner in the PMNCH Donor and Foundations constituency. Dedicated to promoting safe, sustainable, and healthy mobility for all, the FIA Foundation has been striving since its establishment in 2001, to address the issues of road traffic injuries, air quality, climate action, and youth empowerment. FIA Foundation was instrumental in the ‘Raahgiri’ street day, which took place in Delhi, India on June 18th, in support of the 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign.

Read more here and learn about FIA Foundation's amazing work.