📢 HAPPENING TODAY On the margins of the World Health Summit, the governments of South Africa and Spain, together with the GLN, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), the Nexus Initiative and the Women’s Health Empowerment Network (WHEN), will co-host a high-level roundtable on safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) during global health architecture reform. Building on the political commitments advanced at the 79th World Health Assembly, the discussion will contribute to the ongoing reform discussions ahead of WHA80. The roundtable will bring together a cross-regional group of government and organisational representatives who play leading roles in the global health architecture reform processes and advancing SRHR. #WHS2026 #GlobalHealth #SRHR

The Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (GLN) is at the World Health Summit in Berlin, where global health architecture (GHA) reform and health equity are among the central topics. Building on the joint statement issued by GLN Ministers of Health at the 79th World Health Assembly earlier this year, the Network is calling for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (WCAH), including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), to be explicitly prioritised in GHA reform efforts. Reform must deliver measurable gains for women, children and adolescents. That means safeguarding SRHR, protecting essential services through the transition, and strengthening country-led systems with rights, equity and accountability at their centre. 🔗 Read the GLN’s group statement at WHA79:tinyurl.com/d5hb2tmx #WHS26 #GlobalHealth #WCAH #SRHR

Following the Global Leaders Network's high-level meeting on "Financing for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health in a Time of Austerity" at #UNGA81, Matshidiso Masire, Deputy Director for Southern Africa at the Gates Foundation, reflected on the commitments countries shared and why maternal and child survival must stay at the top of the agenda with adequate financing. "The financing dialogue that the GLN has put together is a great platform that we will continue to support," she said, "to ensure that as we face ODA cuts and different priorities at a country level, we make sure that our children and our mothers are not left behind." 🎧 Listen to her remarks below. #GLN #WCAH #HealthFinancing @GatesAfrica @gatesfoundation

In Liberia, World Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Day marked a renewed focus on ensuring women receive timely, quality and lifesaving care during childbirth. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with development partners, launched a revised national PPH protocol and locally modelled calibrated drapes to support earlier and more accurate detection of blood loss. The effort builds on the country’s work to strengthen the readiness of health workers, access to lifesaving commodities, blood supplies and referral systems, helping ensure women experiencing postpartum haemorrhage can receive the care they need without delay. For Liberia, strengthening the response to postpartum haemorrhage forms part of its broader commitment to reducing preventable maternal deaths and improving maternal health outcomes. Read more: tinyurl.com/bdd9z3vj #WorldPPHDay #MaternalHealth #Liberia #WCAH

Following our high-level event at #UNGA81, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Austin Demby reflected on the progress made through the country’s 300 Days of Activism for Triple Zero campaign. With maternal deaths reported 31% lower and infant deaths 11% lower than the same period last year, Sierra Leone is demonstrating that measurable progress is possible, even in a challenging financing environment. The next step is to turn this momentum into lasting change, with sustained financing, stronger partnerships and continued country-led action. #UNGA81 #TripleZeroSL #WCAH #MaternalHealth #ChildHealth #HealthFinancing #SierraLeone

“A policy without a budget is a press release. A commitment without financing is a promise already broken.” Last week at #UNGA81, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on leaders to protect health budget lines, prioritise financing for sexual and reproductive health and services in humanitarian settings, and strengthen accountability by returning with “numbers, not intentions.” Dr Tedros also highlighted the Accra Reset as an important initiative for health sovereignty through domestic resource mobilisation, and welcomed Ghana’s focus on maternal mortality as a litmus test for progress in health.

“We watch with utter broken hearts as women around the world continue to die from causes that are largely preventable. We also stand alongside women and their families through the devastating effects of stillbirth and grief.” At the GLN’s high-level event on the margins of #UNGA81, midwife Sanele Lukhele (@saniegambu) shared first-hand insights from the frontline of care, highlighting the consequences of gaps in health financing for women, children and adolescents. Lukhele also highlighted the challenges faced by health workers when systems lack the workforce and resources needed to provide essential care. #GLN #WCAH #GlobalHealth #UNGA81

WATCH: Jean-Sébastien Conty, Deputy Director for Global Affairs at France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, announces France as the newest member of the Global Leaders Network at #UNGA81. Looking ahead, Mr Conty invited participants to continue the conversation on child health at the Child Summit, taking place at the Paris Peace Forum on 10–11 November. The Summit will bring together governments, philanthropic organizations, the private sector, and civil society to advance collective action for the health and well-being of children. #GLN #UNGA81 #ChildHealth #ChildSummit #ParisPeaceForum

WATCH: South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon. Ronald Lamola, delivers the GLN Communiqué on Financing for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health in a Time of Austerity at #UNGA81. Read the full communiqué: globalleadersnetwork.org/wp-…

At the GLN's high-level meeting on the margins of #UNGA81, Dr Issa Faye, Director General for Global Practices and Partnerships at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), announced the development of an alliance focused on advancing maternal and newborn health. The initiative has set a target to mobilise more than US$500 million, bringing together governments, development partners, philanthropies and the private sector around country priorities and stronger health systems. “We are going to work together and really make sure that this reflects the direction of the Accra Reset and global health financing reforms. Then we’ll look at country priorities and make sure that we are aligned in what we deliver in country, because countries need to be in the driver’s seat.” #GLN #HealthFinancing #MaternalHealth #IsDB

At the GLN’s high-level meeting at #UNGA81, Ms Eva Granados, Vice Minister for International Cooperation of Spain, highlighted Spain’s commitment to advancing maternal and child health and announced plans for a World Forum for Maternal and Child Survival in Mexico City in March 2027. The forum, co-hosted by the Government of Mexico and other multilateral organisations, seeks to generate concrete commitments and accelerate action for maternal and child survival. “We are committed to equity, global health and the promotion of maternal and child health. It is in this spirit that the government of President Pedro Sánchez has joined this network of leaders, and it is in this spirit that Spain is also collaborating with the Government of Mexico, the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, and other multilateral institutions to convene the Global Forum for Maternal and Child Survival, which will be held in Mexico next year. This forum will seek to define and drive catalytic actions that allow us to secure concrete progress in the health indicators for women, children, and adolescents.” #GLN #UNGA81 #MaternalHealth #ChildHealth

On the margins of #UNGA81, the United Republic of Tanzania, Africa CDC and the African Union Commission co-convened a high-level dialogue to accelerate country-led action towards the “Three Zeros”: zero home delivery, zero preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and zero unvaccinated children. Hosted by H.E. Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania and African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, represented by Vice-President Deogratius Ndejembi, the meeting focused on translating political commitment into sustainable financing, aligned partnerships, stronger accountability, and measurable results. #ThreeZeros #MaternalHealth #ChildHealth #AfricaCDC

Happening today on the margins of #UNGA81. Ministers of Health and Finance, development partners and financing institutions are coming together to explore how gynaecological and reproductive health can be integrated into Universal Health Coverage (UHC) reforms and sustainable health financing. The discussion brings treatable conditions such as female genital schistosomiasis, heavy menstrual bleeding and obstetric fistula into a broader conversation about health systems, financing and country-led implementation. #TheOverlookedAgenda #UHC4Women #WCAH #UNGA81

At #UNGA81, South Africa called for stronger protection of financing for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health, as shrinking development assistance, rising debt burdens and limited fiscal space put hard-won health gains under pressure. Representing H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chair of the Global Leaders Network (GLN), Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Hon. Ronald Lamola outlined the GLN’s action-oriented agenda to close financing gaps, strengthen country-led solutions and sustain progress in health. 🔗Read the full story: sanews.gov.za/south-africa/s…

Representing H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chair of the Global Leaders Network (GLN), South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon. Ronald Lamola, addressed the GLN's high-level meeting at #UNGA81. He reflected on the impact of the historic fall in official development assistance, and reaffirmed GLN's role in driving action to close financing gaps, sustain progress and protect hard-won gains for women's, children's and adolescents' health. Watch his remarks. #GLN #WCAH #GlobalHealth #UNGA81

H.E. President Emmanuel Macron of France has joined the Global Leaders Network for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health (GLN). Jean-Sébastien Conty, Deputy Director for Global Affairs at France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, made the announcement during the GLN’s high-level meeting on the margins of #UNGA81. President Macron’s membership further strengthens the Network’s collective action to advance the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents. Welcome to the Global Leaders Network, President Macron! #WCAH #GlobalHealth #France #UNGA81