mothers2mothers (m2m) will be in New York City, United States, during the week of 22^nd September to participate in the 80^th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Week and engage in important and urgent discussions shaping the future of global health and development. This year’s UNGA takes place against a backdrop of major disruptions in international funding for global health and women’s rights. Hosted under the theme of “Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights“, the stakes have never been higher—particularly for the health and well-being of African women, children, and families.

As noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)—including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cervical cancer—emerge as a growing health threat across sub-Saharan Africa, the UN High-Level Meeting on the Prevention of NCDs and Mental Health is also set to be a pivotal moment during the week. Centered around the theme “Equity and Integration: Transforming Lives and Livelihoods through Leadership and Action on Noncommunicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-Being,” the meeting will convene key stakeholders and policymakers to drive progress on these urgent issues. As an NGO holding consultative status with ECOSOC, m2m looks forward to attending and contributing our frontline experience, insights, and proven impact to the conversation.

Where to find m2m at UNGA80

Here are some events where you can plan to connect with the m2m team at UNGA:

• Monday 22 September, 15.00–17.00: A panel discussion organised by Management Sciences for Health (MSH), on “Built to Save Lives: Health Systems in a Time of Tough Choices”: A panel of experts, including m2m’s Ilda Kuleba, will explore the often overlooked yet essential role of strong health systems in delivering lifesaving care across diverse contexts—from conflict zones to stable economies—and the risks of neglecting this critical work.
• Monday 22 September, 9.30-10.00: Devex event on “Health without borders: Building a global workforce for the future”, hosted by Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. m2m’s Ilda Kuleba will take part in a fireside chat to discuss how international and regional cooperation can help strengthen national health workforce capacities.
• Wednesday 24 September, 15.00-16.30: Join m2m’s Chief Communications and Advocacy Officer, Dillon Mann, at “Community-Led Health: Scaling Workers, Innovation, and Resilience” at The Sidebar. Dillon will co-lead a conversation with colleagues from Lwala Community Alliance, the Community Health Impact Coalition, Integrate Health, and Grand Challenges Canada exploring how best to strengthen and scale community-led health systems at this critical time.

Get in touch!

We also welcome requests for side meetings with our delegation, which will include m2m Interim CEO Chad Rathner, Africa Director of Strategic Operations and Partnerships Ilda Kuleba, and CEO Emeritus Frank Beadle de Palomo. To request a meeting, email [email protected].

Keep an eye on our website and social media feeds for more news ahead of, and during, #UNGA80.