Integrating a Gender Lens in the Fight Against Malaria: A dialogue exploring the power of women’s leadership in Malaria Eradication
- 23 Sept 2024 | 8:00am - 09:30am ET
- Yale Club 50 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017 (In person event)
The 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79), will take place in New York from 10 – 24 September. You will be participating in an official side event on 23 September titled, “Integrating a Gender Lens in the Fight Against Malaria: A dialogue exploring the power of women’s leadership in malaria eradication,” hosted by WomenLift Health and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria.
Event Overview
Malaria remains one of the world’s killer diseases, claiming lives and countries’ progress especially in areas with limited resources. The impact of malaria is greater among marginalized communities and particularly affects women and children. Although women play a critical role in healthcare they are underrepresented, holding just a quarter of leadership positions across the global health space.
This session will explore how reimagining leadership, particularly by elevating women in leadership roles, can significantly impact the fight against malaria, especially in the context of climate change, and drive better health outcomes.
Panel Objectives
Please contact the WomenLift Health team for any questions regarding the event at communications@womenlifthealth.org.
Chief Executive Officer, RBM Partnership to End Malaria
Dr Michael Adekunle Charles is the Chief Executive Officer at the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, which brings together over 500 partners dedicated to eliminating the disease. His leadership is dedicated to putting malaria high on the global health agenda and pursuing interventions that holistically address the disease and the way it intersects with other factors such as climate, gender, poverty and inequity. He is passionate about coordinating malaria interventions, strengthening health systems and working with partners around the world to bring together the right tools to combat the disease. A seasoned leader and medical doctor, Dr. Charles also served at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for 17 years, where he was at the helm of strategically aligning the organisation's Africa vision to meet evolving needs. He is an ardent humanitarian and international diplomat who has led teams around the world to deliver diverse and impactful humanitarian and development programmes.President, WomenLift Health
Amie Batson, President of WomenLift Health, is an internationally recognised leader in global health with a 30-year career focused on innovation and strategic partnerships. Her extensive experience includes pivotal roles as Chief Strategy Officer at PATH, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator at USAID, and over a decade at the World Bank where she pioneered innovative health financing mechanisms. Batson's work in immunisation and vaccine financing has unlocked billions of dollars in new funding and led to the establishment of key global health initiatives like Gavi and the Global Financing Facility. She also held a joint appointment at WHO and UNICEF, where she designed the Vaccine Independence Initiative. A Yale University graduate with a Master of Public and Private Management, Batson is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development and a frequent speaker on global health issues. Her current role at WomenLift Health reflects her commitment to expanding the influence of women leaders in global health and driving systemic change towards gender equality in leadership.Minister of Health, Cabo Verde
Dr. Filomena Gonçalves is Cabo Verde’s Minister of Health, renowned for her leadership in public health and human rights advocacy. Key accomplishments include leading the country to WHO certification as malaria-free, launching nationwide programs for chronic disease prevention, and designating 2024 as the Year of Mental Health, highlighting her commitment to health equity. Her trajectory exemplifies transformative female leadership, characterized by an innovative and empathetic approach that inspires future generations in Cape Verde and beyond. Reflecting a continuous commitment to social justice, sustainable development, and the promotion of human rights, her exemplary work for the health and well-being of populations reaffirms her position as one of Cape Verde's most influential and respected political figures, having a significant impact at both African regional and international levels.Special Adviser (Technical), Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare in Nigeria
Dr Mayowa Alade is a Special Adviser (Technical) to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare in Nigeria. In this role, she provides technical support to various landmark healthcare transformation and reform programs including the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) through the Sectoral Wide Approach anchored around reducing maternal and child health outcomes in Nigeria; Human Resources for Health policy/Managed Migration policy; Social Action Fund among others. Prior to this, she worked with the World Bank in Nigeria as a Health Specialist. At the World Bank, she provided technical support to maternal and child health (MCH) programs and health systems strengthening innovations including three large projects - Nigeria State Health Investment Project (NSHIP), the Nigeria Polio Eradication Support Program, Nigeria Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project. Dr Alade interfaced with policymakers from the national and subnational governments and other key stakeholders including development partners like GAVI, Gates Foundation, WHO, USAID, and UNICEF on resource allocation for health, restructuring of health care or administrative institutions, and analyzing existing evidence for better decision making. Dr. Alade holds a medical degree from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Glasgow, UK, and a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in Leadership, Management and Policy from Boston University School of Public Health, USA.Executive Director, African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA)
Joy Phumaphi is a distinguished global health leader whose decades of service have been dedicated to advancing public health in Africa and enhancing global health security. Her work, spanning key health priorities, including malaria, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Reproductive, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMCAH), nutrition, pandemic preparedness and response, and the intersections of gender and climate change with health, aims to transform Africa’s healthcare landscape by improving accessibility, equity, and the response to emerging health threats that significantly affect millions of Africans and the global community. Joy Phumaphi sits on and chairs several boards, where she is a key influencer working to ensure that Africa’s health priorities are recognised and addressed within the global health agenda. She remains an instrumental voice in championing the strengthening of health systems, health financing, and pandemic preparedness, paving the way for Africa to achieve its own health transformations, asserting that a healthy Africa is essential for the continent’s development, peace, and stability. Phumaphi serves as the Executive Secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), a groundbreaking coalition of African Union Heads of State and Government working to eliminate malaria in Africa by 2030. She leads the ALMA Secretariat in supporting the Heads of State and Government’s agenda to drive accountability and action for results, public and private domestic resource mobilisation for malaria, NTDs, and other priorities in Africa’s health development agenda. She also chairs the RBM Partnership to End Malaria and co-chairs the Lancet Pathfinder Commission on Health in the Zero Carbon Economy and is a member of the COVID 19 Task Force on Global Health, Diplomacy and Cooperation.CEO, Malaria No More UK
Dr Bonfield has been the CEO of Malaria No More UK since December 2022. Awarded a CBE in 2014 for her services to charity in the UK and abroad, Dr Bonfield was a co-creator and Chief Executive of The Vision Catalyst Fund and, as Chief Executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, she raised over £100m and successfully implemented eye health programmes in 28 countries throughout the Commonwealth. Under Dr Bonfield’s leadership, The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund became the first investor in the Cluster Munition Coalition which, over an eighteen-month period, successfully secured an international treaty banning cluster bombs. Prior to this, Dr Bonfield developed a policy unit for the Aga Khan Foundation (UK) and represented the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Brussels, as well as working as a Programme Development Specialist for the Bernard van Leer Foundation in the Netherlands. Bernard van Leer Foundation focusing on HIV/AIDS and growing up in indigenous societies.Director, WHO Global Malaria Programme
Dr Ngamije served as the Rwandan Minister of Health from February 2020 to November 2022. During this time, he led the development and execution of the Health Sector Strategic Plan as well as the development and implementation of the COVID-19 comprehensive response plan. In a previous role (2018–2019), Dr Ngamije served as the National Programme Officer for Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the WHO Rwanda country office, based in Kigali. Before that, he spent 10 years (2007–2017) coordinating, for the Rwandan Ministry of Health, the mobilization of resources and implementation of projects funded by multilateral and bilateral partners through the Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU). Between 2005 and 2007, he coordinated Rwanda’s National Malaria Control Programme. Dr Ngamije is the former Co-chair of the Pandemic Fund, a collaborative partnership that finances critical investments to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capacities at national, regional and global levels, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. He is also a member of the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB), an independent monitoring and accountability body to ensure preparedness for global health crises.Director, Malaria, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Philip Welkhoff has led the foundation’s Malaria program since 2018 and has concurrently led the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) since 2021. Before becoming director of the Malaria program, Philip served as director of research at IDM before it became part of the foundation. In that role, he helped to develop computer simulations of the transmission dynamics of malaria, polio, and other diseases. This work supported public health professionals and scientists in planning eradication strategies. Philip also served as a pro bono external advisor to various Gates Foundation programs, including Agricultural Development and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene. Philip earned dual undergraduate degrees in mathematics and aerospace engineering at the University of Texas at Austin and holds a Ph.D. in applied and computational mathematics from Princeton University. His doctoral work focused on biophysically inspired models of neural circuits for perceptual decision-making. Philip is a 2004 Hertz Fellow and received a Special Achievement by a Hertz Fellow Award in 2009 for his work on malaria modeling. He serves on the board of the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation and is a senior Hertz Fellowship interviewer.Founder & Executive Director, Speak Up Africa
Yacine Djibo founded Speak Up Africa in 2011 to discover and implement effective, sustainable solutions to the most challenging problems facing the African people. Focusing on strategic communications, policy and advocacy, Speak Up Africa is dedicated to collaborating with African leaders and citizens to take on issues such as malaria, neglected tropical diseases and sanitation in order to save and improve lives. Yacine Djibo currently sits on the Board of the Sabin Vaccine Institute and the Faecal sludge Management Alliance and serves in an advisory capacity to several organizations, including the Malaria Eradication Scientific Alliance (MESA), GeneConvene Global Collaborative and UNITLIFE. Previously, Yacine Djibo worked as the Senegal country director for Malaria No More, where she developed and managed several high-profile national programs to promote malaria prevention and treatment. Prior to devoting her career to the health and well-being of children and families in Africa, Yacine Djibo honed her skills in the areas of business administration, finance and real estate at several private-sector companies.Director of Communications & Engagement, WomenLift Health
Lizz is a public affairs professional with extensive experience gained within several roles in the public, private, and international development sectors spanning over 17 years. She currently leads the design and implementation of a complex strategy addressing global partner engagement, advocacy and strategic communications to raise awareness about women’s leadership, create a compelling case for change and most importantly, encourage and support concrete actions by women, male allies and influencers for equality in health leadership. Lizz is also an award-winning author of the book #YouthCan and a public speaker on a variety of topics, including, branding & digital media, risk communication & community engagement, adolescent health & advocacy, misinformation and disinformation among others. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Law from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, a post graduate Professional Diploma in Public Relations from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations in the UK, and a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from Strathmore University. She is also a Public Policy Management Fellow from Virginia Commonwealth University in the US, and a recipient of former US President Barack Obama’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (2015). Lizz is also a PhD fellow in Healthcare Management at Strathmore Business School.Follow us on Twitter at @womenlifthealth
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