Innovations in Supporting Local Health Systems for Global Women’s Health Summary Report of the Wye River, MD Conference Hosted b y R ealizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative Council of Women World Leaders Columbia Univ ersit y Mailman Sc hool of P ublic Health Innovations in Supporting Local Health Systems for Global Women’s Health SPONSORS Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative (EGI) is a project led by former P resident of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, and is a partnership of the Aspen Institute, Columbia University, and the International Council on Human Rights Policy. EGI’s mission is to mobilize and influence political, economic and civil society leaders in order to tackle global inequities by connecting human security, human development and human rights. The Council of Women World Leaders is a network of current and former prime ministers, presidents and cabinet ministers whose mission is to mobilize the highest–level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development. Through its networks, summits, and partnerships, the Council promotes good governance and gen- der equality, and enhances the experience of democracy globally by increasing the number, effectiveness, and visibility of women who lead their countries. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health is the only accredited school of public health in New York City and is among the first in the nation. Its students and multidisciplinary faculty members engage in research, both locally and globally, concentrating on biostatistics, environmental health sci- ences, epidemiology, health policy and management, population and family health, and sociomedical sciences. In the field of global health, the Mailman School has played a leadership role in improving delivery of health services through such programs as its Averting Maternal Death and Disability ( AMDD) program, its MTCT–Plus Initiative and other AIDS programs, and through its involvement in the UN Millennium Project Task Forces on child health and maternal health, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. PHOT O CREDITS Front cover © Jeremy Hartley/Panos Opposite page © 20 02 WH O/P. Virot Page 4 © 20 02 WHO/P. Virot Page 5 (top left) © 2003 Julia Griner/CARE Page 5 (bottom left) © 2003 Otto Guzman, Courtesy of Photoshare Page 8 (bottom) © 2001 Josh Estey/CARE Page 10 © 2004 Karen Robinson/Panos Page 13 © 2000 Kim Conger/CARE Page 14 (left) © 2001 Josh Estey/CARE Page 15 (right) © 2002 WHO/P. Virot Page 16 (top) © Jeremy Horner/Panos Page 18 (top) © 2002 WHO/P. Virot Page 19 (left) © 1999 Martin Adler/Panos Page 19 (right) © 2004 Jasmine, Courtesy of Photoshare Photoshare images used in this material are for illustrative use. [...]... establish tolerance and respect for women’s decisions in all matters pertaining to their health and well being HIV programs and policies must be oriented to the strengthening of health systems and to the uncompromising protection of the health and rights of women and girls Wye River Call to Action for Global Women’s Health 11 The grim picture of women’s health, including maternal mortality and HIV, has... placing a focus on short term results Sustained health development does not fit this profile Part of the solution lies in the harmonization or pooling of funds, focused around a single country plan, that is flexible and includes funding for both recurrent and capital expenditures But this alone does not guarantee that the funds will be used for strengthening local health systems or for improving women’s health. .. discrimination not residing in Durban, South Africa, Promise only from some of those in her communi- Mthembu has become an international ty, but from those in the health system as leader in advocating for sexual and repro- well During a visit to a health clinic a few ductive rights for women living with years after testing positive, a doctor HIV/AIDS Her organization has members administered an injection... Aho’s exam- providers or to avoid care entirely It is, for “war” to get women appropriate health- ple illustrates, great strides are possible 20 S IGNATORIES TO THE W YE R IVER C ALL TO A CTION The Wye River Call to Action for Global Women’s Health was developed by participants to the Innovations in Supporting Local Health Systems for Global Women’s Health: A Leaders Symposium,” Aspen Wye River Conference... right to health and restructuring the existing, but deteriorating, health institutions Mexico City’s Secretary of Health, Asa Christina Laurell, attributes much of the program’s success to the strong political and financial commitment “You cannot have a rich government and poor people, she explains ” Indeed, financing for this program has been sustained by cutting superfluous government spending; all... morning at ” 8 am That was it Minister Suazo had spent little time thinking about gender issues, and had never Upon winning, he asked her to become the ” heard the term “gender equity But, as she Minister of the Institute of Women’s Affairs Continues on page 12 12 in Uganda highlighting gaps in the availability and quality of emergency obstetric care resulted in mainstreaming of reproductive health. .. ” Journal of Health and Social Behavior:80–94 8 Braveman, P and S Gruskin 2003 “Defining , equity in health Journal of Epidemiology and ” Community Health 57:254–258 9 For more information, please visit the website for the Mexico City Ministry of Health: http://www.salud.df.gob.mx 10 WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY WHA58.31: Working towards universal coverage of maternal, newborn and child health interventions,... Council of Women World Leaders Suzanne Aho Minister of Health, Togo The challenge of strengthening local health systems to ensure women’s access to healthcare is a complex and daunting task Perhaps it seems insurmountable and unattainable Yet, this report and the stories it tells reveal that promising practice and policy innovations are happening across the globe in communities, cities and at the national... been vaccinated? hands–on Minister of Health She is a stun- It turned out that the woman was in ning example of how a determined leader Monitoring Equity — Supporting Health Advocates and Leaders In South Africa, where apartheid has left Presented by: tremendous health and economic dispari- GOOD PRACTICE Lilian Dudley ties, Health Systems Trust, an NGO, is Chief Executive Officer, working in communities... universal access to reproductive health by 2015 as an additional target to MDG 5 Wye River Call to Action for Global Women’s Health Meenakshi Datta Ghosh Principal Advisor and Secretary, Health, Nutrition and Family Welfare Planning Commission, Government of India As the former Joint Secretary for the this improved care and empowerment for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India’s women Meenakshi Datta . at Wye River, Maryland for a path breaking meeting entitled Innovations in Supporting Local Health Systems for Global Women’s Health: A Leader’s Symposium.” This. grateful to the following foundations for their generous support of Innovations in Supporting Local Health Systems for Global Women’s Health: A Leader’s