MMS News

"Donors disbursed $14.2 billion for sexual and reproductive health and rights funding in 2022. Who were the biggest funders and how does it compare to total ODA? Plus, USAID localization stalls, and U.S. Republicans' plan for aid. (...) Sexual and reproductive health and rights are a big and growing area of development funding. In 2022, disbursements related to SRHR amounted to $14.2 billion, up from $12.7 billion the year before, according to a report from Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung, an organization that focuses on the health needs of young people."

• Devex

“The series of crises and shocks the world has suffered in recent years – including disease outbreaks, financial crises, multiple conflicts and the deepening impacts of climate change – have raised fears that commitments to UHC will be seriously undermined. In 2022, in light of these concerns, Chatham House established the Commission for Universal Health to look at ways to support countries in maintaining and accelerating progress towards UHC. Drawing on the work of the commission, this report explores examples of where, and how, conditions of crisis and shock have had a catalytic role in driving universal health initiatives, and offers recommendations for leaders currently considering launching or expanding UHC reforms. (...) The report endorses the World Health Organization’s finding that investment of an additional 1 per cent of GDP for primary healthcare is a realistic target for countries transitioning to UHC."

• Chatham House Commission

"On June 20, 2024, over 21,000 health workers from more than 80 countries will attend the tenth edition of Teach to Reach, a two-day peer learning conference organized by the Geneva Learning Foundation. This event is not just another conference—it’s part of a growing movement that recognizes the power of local knowledge and action to solve global health challenges. This 10th edition will focus on two pressing issues: the intersection of climate change and health and the future of immunization."

• Health Policy Watch

"South Africa is ramping up its response against mpox after two people died from the infectious disease within a week this month. But as the country's government turns to donors to secure potentially lifesaving drugs, health activists ask why such requests are necessary when wealthier countries are sitting on large stockpiles. (...) "We probably have a few hundred cases that we don't know about," says Salim Abdool Karim, a Durban-based epidemiologist who played a leading role in the country's COVID-19 response. This prediction is safe to assert because none of the current cases have a recent history of travel, meaning that they acquired the virus locally, and do not appear to have infected each other."

• ThinkGlobalHealth

"In a first for healthier diets, WHO has issued a “strong recommendation” that countries tax sugar-sweetened beverages as part of a wider effort to combat the powerful health impacts of the industrial foods industry – whose marketing of sugar, sodium and fat-laced, processed foods is linked with millions of deaths annually. WHO also issued more “conditional” recommendations in favor of the taxation of unhealthy foods and the subsidizing of healthier options, in its new guidelines on “Fiscal Policies to Promote Healthy Diets,” launched Friday. The first-ever WHO recommendations on food pricing policies comes only days after a scathing report by WHO’s European Region, that found unhealthy foods amongst the top four commercial products that cause some 19 million deaths annually worldwide, including 2.7 million deaths in the WHO’s European Region."

• Health Policy Watch

"As a Non-State Actor in official relations with WHO, Women in Global Health attended the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA77) together with several of our Chapters. Our focus was on commitments towards gender-responsive health systems and a gender-equal health and care workforce. We continued to note challenges around commitments to gender equality, which we first reported on at the start of 2024 in our World Health Organisation 154th Executive Board newsletter."

• Women in Global Health

"Each year during the World Health Organization (WHO)’s World Health Assembly (WHA) happening in May, the Platform hosts a series of side events and discussions around critical global health issues, raising awareness among member states attending WHA meetings. Our annual Geneva Health Week took place from 26 to 29 May 2024 at the Geneva Graduate Institute, which included the Open Briefing to the 77th World Health Assembly and three WHA side events. Watch all our #WHA side events now available on our YouTube channel."

• YouTube
• Graduate Institute - Global Health Centre

"We offer an exciting position for a mid-career development professional. Based in Lucerne/Switzerland, you will manage the portfolio of our health projects in Zambia. We seek a talented and experienced candidate to manage an exciting and dynamic country portfolio (70-90% employment). Your role will include among others: - Develop the long-term strategy and thematic orientation of the country program, in close collaboration with the country team. - Manage the Project and Program cycles, including planning, budgeting, monitoring, reporting, log-frame development, and project documentation. Starting date: As soon as possible, according to availability. How to apply: Please upload your complete application to our recruiting platform."

• SolidarMed
• Download (pdf | 144 kB)

To run the secretariat of Medicus Mundi International (MMI) and to take care of its wide range of activities we are looking for an: Executive Secretary, 40% (or 60% in combination with G2H2 Secretariat). Place of work: Geneva (flexible). At the same time MMI and G2H2 are advertising a position as Executive Secretary for the Geneva Global Health Hub (G2H2) hosted by MMI. It is possible to apply for both positions within a 60% post. Please do so separately, by responding to both vacancy announcements.For further information regarding the position of the MMI Executive Secretary, 40%, please contact Martin Leschhorn, President Medicus Mundi International, mleschhorn@medicusmundi.ch - Applications for the position of the MMI Executive Secretary (including motivation letter) should be sent by email to: Martin Leschhorn Strebel, Director Medicus Mundi Switzerland, mleschhorn@medicusmundi.ch, by 12 July 2024.

• Medicus Mundi International (MMI)
• Geneva Global Health Hub G2H2
• Download (pdf | 222 kB)

"Africa’s health worker shortage is projected to reach more than six million by 2030 – and the weaker the system, the more likely health workers are to leave as poor working conditions erode their morale. The non-profit organisation, Seed Global Health works to address this shortage by investing in long-term training and support for health workers in four countries – Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia – via partnerships with health ministries. For Seed, long-term means “for as long as our partners will have us”, says CEO Dr Vanessa Kerry, who is also the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Climate Envoy. Seed launched its 2030 strategic plan last week, an ambitious programme that requires the organisation to raise at least $100 million."

• Health Policy Watch

Nous sommes très heureux d'accueillir la Division d'épidémiologie clinique de l'Hôpital universitaire de Bâle comme nouvelle organisation membre de notre réseau et nous nous réjouissons d'une bonne collaboration. - L'épidémiologie clinique est un département de l'Hôpital universitaire de Bâle et de l'Université de Bâle. Une partie de la recherche se fait en partenariat avec des organisations dans des pays d'Afrique. L'accent est mis sur le VIH/sida, la tuberculose, la santé mentale et les maladies cardiovasculaires. En principe, le département ne mène en Afrique que des projets de recherche qui présentent également un avantage direct potentiel pour les institutions et/ou les personnes qui y participent.

• Medicus Mundi Suisse
• Département d'épidémiologie clinique de l'Hôpital universitaire de Bâle
• Projets dans le domaine de la santé

"ALVADOR, BRAZIL, 6 June 2024—At the G20 preparatory meeting in Brazil, Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Winnie Byanyima, today urged governments to support a new G20 Alliance, proposed by the Brazilian government, to enable life-saving medicines to be produced in every part of the world. Co-Chair of the Global Council on Inequality, AIDS, and Pandemics Sir Michael Marmot also called on G20 delegates to address the social determinants of pandemics, such as education and human rights, as a concrete part of the G20’s pandemic preparedness efforts."

• UNAIDS

"One of the world’s largest global health initiatives (GHI), vaccine alliance Gavi, started in a UNICEF basement with a staff of five people. Nearly 25 years later, Gavi has grown into one of the most influential players on the global health stage, driving progress on key global health challenges. Yet several experts on global health finance contend that large non-UN multilateral health organizations like Gavi and Global Fund need to gradually turn more of their functions to countries – and devolve into less costly, more country-based institutions."

• Health Policy Watch

"On 30 May, Wemos and civil society partners held a policy debate on the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva. With around 60 representatives from member states’ governments and civil society organizations, attendees and panel speakers shared interesting insights and perspectives on how to make ‘the Code’ an effective instrument that truly promotes the rights of the health and care workforce."

• Wemos
• Medicus Mundi International
• Webinar recording: civil society and 5th reporting round WHO Code of Practice

"The colourfulness of the 2023 annual report is eye-catching: it shows the diversity of activities and meetings organised by Medicus Mundi International. These activities shine into the MMI Network and far beyond into global health. With its regular exchanges on concrete practice of implementing programmes of international health cooperation in a climate friendly way, the Community of Practice on Climate and Health Justice shows what an important role MMI can play for its members as a convener and facilitator of a safe space for interaction. Beyond that, the critical reflection on improving our own work has laid the foundation for tackling structural issues behind the climate crisis and will inform our advocacy work."

• Medicus Mundi International