Kate Dodson

I've just invoked Art.99 of the UN Charter - for the 1st time in my tenure as Secretary-General. Facing a severe risk of collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, I urge the Council to help avert a humanitarian catastrophe & appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared.

As the crisis engulfing Gaza, Israel, and the region escalates, an immediate humanitarian ceasefire must be secured.   The terror, violence, and incalculable harm already suffered by children, women, and families must end.

The Women in Global Health movement deplores the attack on Al Ahli Arab Hospital in the north of the Gaza Strip, which has led to horrific loss of life, with hundreds of fatalities and injuries. This was an operational hospital where health workers were treating patients. It also served as a shelter for internally displaced people. As women working in health all over the world, we stand in solidarity with women on the frontline, dealing with the devastating outcomes of escalating conflict. We are alarmed by the plight of civilians forced to flee from their homes and call for the immediate establishment of safe zones for them across Gaza. We are reminded that conflict is not gender-blind, and that women and girls shoulder a particularly heavy burden. Women are the majority of health workers, as well as the main carers of their families, playing essential roles in their communities. There are up to 50,000 pregnant women affected currently in Gaza, 5,000 of whom are due to give birth, who cannot access appropriate health care and cannot be guaranteed safe delivery. Women have lost access to essential sexual and reproductive health care, including daily menstrual hygiene needs. The forced mass displacement of people, the lack of sanitation and safe drinking water and health care facilities that are no longer able to deliver care, are driving massively increased risks of outbreaks of infectious disease. We urgently call for an immediate stop to the attacks on health facilities and immediate active protection of civilians and health care. Essential life saving services must be reinstated so that healthcare workers have safety to carry out their life-saving work. This includes medicines, medical supplies, food, safe drinking water, fuel and electricity.  Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach those in need. International humanitarian law must be abided by, which means health care must be actively protected and never targeted. womeningh.org/statement-al-a…

LIVE from Brussels: New funding partnership to #EndPolio twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

@jarottingen @wellcometrust Fantastic news! Brilliant choice.

I am honoured and very excited about being selected as CEO of @wellcometrust. I feel privileged to be able to work with Wellcome colleagues to bring discovery science and challenge driven science to society to build a healthier future wellcome.org/news/wellcome-…

This from @malloch_brown in @ProSyn — if we want multilateralism to deliver, we need to look to Africa and other young regions. Here’s why: a 🧵 bit.ly/3RMTGxl

🔥 Let´s count! 21 women leaders ONLY stood at the rostrum of the General Assembly Hall during 🇺🇳 #UNGA78 among 136 Heads of State & Government & 40 Ministers. 11% ! We need more #Women in the international scene 🔥. @GWLvoices @UN_Women @pass_blue @devex

The @washingtonpost gets it right: polio is stubborn, but we have the tools, and need sustained commitment and funding to eradicate it for good. We at @unfoundation are committed to #endpolio. Are you? washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/…

“Health is a Human Right,” @unfoundation's @katesdodson says. Why aren’t governments treating it like one? @TonyMaciulis caught up her with at #UNGA78 to learn about her fight to connect the world's most vulnerable people to proper healthcare. gzeromedia.com/globalstage

Your UNGA Day 3 explainer: We talk Financing for Development+Global Health events, with Vera Songwe + Kate Dodson of @unfoundation undispatch.com/live-from-the-…

The @unfoundation has been committed to the goal to #EndPolio since our founding. Now, Pakistan and Afghanistan have it in their sights to stop this devastating disease for good. Together, we can make history and #EndPolio. nature.com/articles/d4158…

Stay updated on all things #UNGA78. 🔗 BOOKMARK this page: bit.ly/46WsJMG

Curious how countries are negotiating a #PandemicAccord? We got you 👇

Childhood vaccination rates are starting to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels. What will it take to keep up the momentum? Fully funding @WHO & other global health initiatives. Our Senior Director of Global Health Lori Sloate explains to @thehill. bit.ly/3OoF5pO

We have never meant it more than now: We are the FAST-GROWING women-led movement challenging power and privilege for gender equity in health! 🌍🩺 Today we welcomed our 51st Chapter, #WGHRwanda, in a room full of gender champions at the #WD2023 conference in #Kigali! 🇷🇼

84% of the world’s children were vaccinated in 2022. This is a giant step toward reaching pre-pandemic levels. But there’s still a ways to go to prevent future outbreaks — and save more lives. Learn more via @WHO and @UNICEF: uni.cf/46Rt1Vg #BuildBackImmunity

Congratulations to Geeta Rao Gupta, our next Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues at the State Department. A lifelong advocate, Ambassador Gupta will continue the fight to lift up women and girls everywhere and to secure their basic freedoms and rights.

@Arush_Lal @USAID Congrats, Arush!

📣 Life update: Excited to have joined @USAID COVID-19 Response Team as Senior Technical Advisor for Health Integration. I'll be supporting transition from emergency to routine, including developing pandemic surge financing and ensuring countermeasures remain accessible via PHC.

After wrapping up my first in-person meeting as a new board member of the @GlobalHealthOrg I am filled with gratitude. Returning to Washington, DC, brings back memories of my global health journey, which began with the @ghcorps.

Last week, the 76th World Health Assembly focused on the future of @WHO. Here are the top takeaways you need to know about: bit.ly/42oC6l6 #WHO75 #WHA76