WHA 2010: week in review

During the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva in May 2010, MLI hosted a successful program of events and cross-country exchanges. MLI significantly expanded its program from last year, providing country teams the opportunity to participate in sessions on a number of topics related to their work with MLI over the past year. MLI sessions included:

Getting Your Story Told: Communications Workshop By John Donnelly

John Donnelly, Vice-President of Burness Communications and a former journalist for the Boston Globe, led a discussion with MLI ministry staff and members of the media community around the importance of communicating the work taking place in the ministry and the best way to Get Your Story Told. This session was designed to help people in Ministries think about their most important or interesting work and determining how to do a better job in communicating it to the media and to key stakeholders.

MLI Country Team Meeting and Technical Session featuring a discussion of “Overcoming Financial Barriers to Reproductive Health”

MLI’s country team meeting and technical session provided an opportunity for country teams to reflect on MLI’s activities over the past year and highlight both successes and challenges.  In the spirit of peer learning, the technical session emphasized two core interests of the MLI countries—strategies to finance reproductive healthcare programs and issues surrounding aid effectiveness.

Political Leadership for Health Care for All Chaired by Honorable Mary Robinson

Chaired by Honorable Mary Robinson, this roundtable provided a unique opportunity for panelists and participants to discuss, in practical terms, the essential role that political leadership plays in realizing the right to health for all.

MLI Reception Co-hosted by MLI and ACHEST

This reception wrapped up the program of events and served as an opportunity to for participants to re-connect with MLI colleagues and other honored guests. MLI Ministers were recognized for their commitment to MLI and public health.   On behalf of the African Center for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST) and the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM), Francis Omaswa presented the report “Strong Ministries for Strong Health Systems.”

See the meeting notes, presentations, and photos below.