mothers2mothers (m2m) is looking forward to participating in the United Nations’ (UN) 78^th General Assembly in New York City during the week of 18^th of September, and to advocate for paid, professional, supported community health workers (CHWs). Culminating in the UN High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) on 21^st of September, this is going to be a critical week for the global health community to come together and turn words into action.

With two m2m spokeswomen in town—Site Coordinator Bupe Sinkala from Zambia, and Strategic Projects Officer Babalwa Mbono from South Africa—we look forward to ensuring that the need for community-led solutions, and the importance of paid, professional, and fully digitalised female CHWs continue to be front and centre in policymakers’ thinking and approaches to delivering health for all, especially ahead of the adoption of the 2023 Political Declaration at the UN High Level Meeting on UHC.

Will you be there? Be sure to connect with the m2m team by emailing [email protected]!

Below are some of the highlights that we are looking forward to:

• The Community Health Impact Coalition’s (CHIC) side event, “From words to action: Winning the budget line for professional CHWs, on Monday, 18^th of September where m2m Spokeswoman Bupe Sinkala will join other speakers to explore what proCHW health systems integration could look like when proCHWs are included as a recognised, salaried, supplied, supported and supervised occupational group.
• An intimate evening of storytelling hosted by the Johnson & Johnson Foundation on Tuesday, 19^th of September focused on achieving UHC through community-based care, where attendees will hear personal stories from the health workers who work every day to bring quality care to their communities—including Bupe’s powerful personal account.
• The UN High Level Meeting on UHC, which will provide countries and stakeholders an opportunity to reinvigorate progress towards delivering health for all and where we expect an action-oriented outcome that builds on the 2019 Political Declaration and focuses on creating resilient and equitable health systems, with primary health care as a foundation.
• A breakfast roundtable on Friday, 22^nd of September organised by Women in Global Health and the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations on it being “Time to address the root causes of the Great Resignation of Women Health Workers”.

This blog will continue to be updated so keep an eye on our website and social media feeds for more news ahead of UNGA78.

We hope to see you there!