South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has led a call for world leaders to accelerate efforts to improve women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health at a high-level event in New York.
The Global Leaders Network gathering, held on Tuesday alongside the 79th UN General Assembly, brought together heads of state and government to address key challenges in maternal and child health.
With just five years remaining to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the event focused on renewing commitment to health-related targets.
The Global Leaders Network, chaired by Mr Ramaphosa, aims to elevate women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health to the highest political agenda.
Launched in 2023, the network plans to identify up to 10 focus countries to champion significant reductions in mortality rates. It is the first Southern-led global health diplomacy initiative of its kind.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, a member of the network, attended the event, highlighting the international scope of the collaboration.
The gathering was hosted at the Ford Foundation in New York, with support from the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, & Child Health (PMNCH). Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who chairs the PMNCH board, was also present.
As world leaders convene for the UN’s Summit for the Future this week, the Global Leaders Network event sought to harness political will for concrete action on health-related SDGs in the coming years.
