Global Leaders Network

This month, GLN member state Sierra Leone launched a national initiative to eliminate preventable maternal and child deaths within 300 days. Announced by President Julius Maada Bio on the sidelines of the 39th African Union Summit, the “300 Days of Activism” initiative signals a renewed commitment to accelerate progress and drive measurable results for maternal and child health. On the margins of the GLN-CAAP convening in Nairobi, Kenya, Dr Lynda Farma-Grant, Programme Manager for Child Health at Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health, shared insights into the initiative’s goal to achieve the "Triple Zeros": zero preventable maternal deaths, zero infant and child deaths, and zero zero-dose children. #WCAH #MaternalHealth #ChildHealth #300DaysofActivism #EndPreventableDeaths #SierraLeone

During the Global Leaders Network’s fifth Domestic Resource Mobilization webinar, “Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) at the Heart of Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Protecting Rights, Delivering Equity,” live polling captured insights from participants in 104 countries, including policymakers, civil society, multilateral organizations, academics, and the private sector. ➤ 62% identified political commitment as the most critical condition for integrating SRH services within domestically financed UHC systems. ➤52% cited low prioritization of SRHR as a barrier to integration. ➤15% identified limited fiscal space for health as the primary challenge. The findings suggest that while financing constraints remain real, political prioritization determines whether available resources are directed toward SRHR services within national health systems. 👉 Read the full findings: lnkd.in/dJ_RgprT #SRHR #UHC #HealthFinancing #DomesticResourceMobilization #WCAH #GlobalHealth

A new United Nations Inter‑agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) report shows that an estimated 4.9M children under five and 2.1M older children, adolescents, and youth died in 2024, mostly from preventable causes. Where a child is born still shapes their chance of survival. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 58% of under-five deaths, and children in fragile and conflict-affected settings are nearly three times more likely to die before age five. Accelerating progress will require sustained leadership, targeted investments, and urgent action. Read the report: data.unicef.org/resources/leve… #WCAH #ChildHealth #UNIGME #GlobalHealth #Newborncare #SDGs

Great pleasure to be in Nairobi for a joint ⁦@GLN_Community⁩ and ⁦@PMNCH⁩ #CAAPs to discuss progress and obstacles in advancing the #WCAH and #SRHR agenda. Bringing together the highest levels of government advocacy to grassroots to champion #WCAH and #SRHR everywhere

The Global Leaders Network (GLN) and the Collaborative Advocacy Action Plan (CAAP) Coordinating Partners are gathering in Nairobi, Kenya for joint strategic planning on accelerating progress for women's, children's and adolescents' health (WCAH). Sessions will combine strategic framing and peer exchange with action-oriented reflection. Participants will engage in structured dialogue, share practical experiences, and collectively identify solutions and opportunities. #GLN #CAAPartners #WCAH #2026Roadmap

We know what works to prevent these deaths: • Childhood #immunization against major killers like #pneumonia and #malaria • Small and Sick Newborn Care during the critical first 28 days of life But delivering these solutions requires sustained investment in health systems and health workers. The time to act is now. #ChildHealth #NewbornHealth #SDG3

The global context is becoming more difficult. Health funding dropped by more than $10 billion in 2025, driven largely by cuts to development assistance. Historic reductions in external aid suggest 14 million additional preventable deaths by 2030, including 4.5M children under five.

Between 2000–2023, 170 million children died before age five, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). New data on Wednesday will show whether the world is closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals child survival targets. #ChildHealth #NewbornHealth #SDG3

This #InternationalWomensDay, we honor the strength, leadership, and achievements of women around the world. But progress must continue. Every year, 260,000 women die from preventable pregnancy-related causes, most of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. Changing this requires sustained investment in women’s health, rights, and opportunities. The evidence is clear: Every dollar invested in women’s health generates returns through improved productivity, reduced healthcare costs, and stronger economies. Now is the time to #give and #gain a healthier, more prosperous world for all. #IWD2026 #IWD #InternationalWomensDay2026 #GivetoGain

“Sexual and reproductive health is not peripheral, it is a core test of whether Universal Health Coverage truly delivers equity, financial protection, and strong primary health care.” — Prof @AlistairMokoena, Executive Dean, Johannesburg Business School. Speakers shared key lessons on integrating #SRH into health benefit packages, safeguarding financing even in constrained fiscal environments, and strengthening data systems, supply chains, and accountability to close the gap between commitment and delivery. #UHC #SRHR #Webinar #UniversalHealthCoverage

Today, Dr Katlego Mothudi, Managing Director of the Board of Healthcare Funders, joins global leaders as a speaker at the dialogue on “Sexual and Reproductive Health at the Heart of Universal Health Coverage: Protecting Rights, Delivering Equity.” Hosted at the Johannesburg Business School, the session brings together international experts to advance conversations on strengthening health systems and ensuring equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services across Africa and beyond.

HAPPENING TODAY! In just under an hour, we're diving into one of the most critical health policy questions of our time: How do we protect and advance Sexual and Reproductive Health within #UniversalHealthCoverage, particularly in contexts of constrained resources and declining external funding. Join the conversation online: t.co/TZ0lnfAOmR #SRH #HealthForAll #UHC #PublicHealth

Happening tomorrow: Sexual and Reproductive Health at the heart of Universal Health Coverage. As global health financing contracts and political pushback on SRHR intensifies, progress for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health is increasingly at risk. Service disruptions, workforce losses and rising out-of-pocket costs are widening inequities at the very moment UHC reforms should be closing them. Join GLN Domestic Resource Mobilisation Webinar V to explore how SRH can be protected and embedded within UHC through primary health care, sustainable domestic financing and clearly defined benefit packages. 📅 5 March 2026 ⏰ 13:00–15:00 SAST 🌍 Hybrid 👉 Register here: pmnch.who.int/news-and-event… @GLN_Community @go2uj

Today’s is a truly special day for the people of #S/L as the @GovSL and #MoH @DembyAustin officially unveil the Presidential-led 300 Days of Activism initiative to achieve zero preventable maternal deaths, zero preventable child deaths and zero zero dose children.

Join us for the fifth webinar in the GLN Domestic Resource Mobilisation series: Sexual & Reproductive Health at the Heart of #UniversalHealthCoverage: Protecting Rights, Delivering Equity. As fiscal space tightens and #SRHR faces growing political pushback, hard‑won gains in women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (WCAH) are at risk. This session will explore how #SRH can be protected, prioritised and integrated into #UHC reforms. Join the conversation! 🗓️5 March 2026 |⏰13:00–15:00 SAST |📍Hybrid @JBS_UJ |🔗Register here👉 t.co/TZ0lnfAOmR #WCAH #HealthSystems #DRM #GlobalHealth #healthequity

We’re pleased to announce Dr Zaynab Essack, Research Director at South Africa’s Human Sciences Research Council (@HSRCza), as a speaker at our upcoming #webinar: Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) at the Heart of Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Protecting Rights, Delivering Equity. A leading social & behavioral scientist, Dr Essack brings extensive expertise in adolescent & youth health, #SRHR, HIV prevention, gender equity, and ethical, community‑based research in low‑resource settings. Join the conversation as we explore how to protect and prioritize #SRH within #UHC reforms. 📅 March 5, 2026 |⏰ 13:00-15:00 SAST | 📍 Hybrid @JBS_UJ |🔗 Register now: t.co/TZ0lnfAOmR #HealthEquity #AdolescentHealth #UniversalHealthCoverage

Congratulations to #Denmark for becoming the first #EU country certified by WHO for eliminating mother‑to‑child transmission of HIV and syphilis, an important milestone showing what strong political commitment, integrated maternal health systems, and #UniversalHealthCoverage can achieve. #WCAH #UHC #GlobalHealth #HealthSystems #EMTCT

Congratulations to Denmark on becoming the first country in the #EU to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. With this public health achievement, 23 countries and territories have now been validated by @WHO for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis or hepatitis B virus, or certified on the path to elimination. This milestone demonstrates that with strong political commitment and consistent investment in primary care and integrated maternal and child health services, countries can protect every pregnant woman and newborn from these diseases. who.int/news/item/27-0…

Join us for our upcoming #webinar “Sexual and Reproductive Health at the Heart of UHC: Protecting Rights, Delivering Equity.” @RachelMsimuko, Acting Director of the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA), will share Zambia’s experience and why investing in #SRH is both a rights and systems imperative, particularly amid shrinking fiscal space and growing pressure on health systems. 📅 5 March 2026 ⏰ 13:00–15:00 SAST 📍 Hybrid @JBS_UJ 🔗 Register: t.co/TZ0lnfAOmR #UHC #GlobalHealth #HealthEquity #ReproductiveHealth #UniversalHealthCoverage