Maike Scharp

Last Friday was yet another moment to move the agenda for #mothers and #newborns in Kenya. I was priviledged to share the platform with the current President of FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) , my fellow advocate for the accountability of mothers, newborns and adolescents, Prof. Anne Kihara. As she reminded us of these powerful but true words by the late Professor Mahmoud Fathalla, a past president of FIGO, it took me back to the work that we are currently undertaking as White Ribbon Alliance Kenya, through the #Ask #Listen, #Act approach and finding solutions through #storytelling. Prof Mahmoud’s words resonate so deep with the realities of families, children, husbands, parents who have lost their kin to #preventable maternal and newborn deaths world over. That “Women are not dying because of untreatable diseases. They are dying because societies have yet to make the decision that their lives are worth saving“.  As a speaker in this forum, it was my moment to remind everyone in the room that we are failing because we are yet to decide that women’s lives are worth saving, and that to change this, we must be ready to take the #unconventional route, and start our #programming #resourcing and #policymaking from the place of asking, listening and acting on what the #users of care want, for they are the real experts of their own health. During our discussions, we collectively recognized that the usual #global to #national  “plug and play” approach is insufficient and fails to appreciate country and community contexts. Contexts and realities matter, and women and newborns are not #homogeneous. As a staunch believer that maternal and newborn health is everyone’s business, I was excited to see my years of advocacy bear fruit to a great extend. There is now widespread acknowledgment that addressing maternal and newborn health requires considering their self articulated needs, needs that transcend the health sector , and seek to address the #socialdeterminants of maternal and newborn health. I emphasized that we shouldn’t merely think outside the box; that we should discard the box entirely and venture far from our usual modus operandi. Our data-rich environment often lacks #actionable decision-making. We get caught up in the long #processes, #templates, and #forums, losing sight of what truly matters: meeting the needs of women & newborns where they are! We concluded by crafting an #action plan to tackle #postpartumhemorrhage in the country, the leading killer of mothers during #childbirth. I am optimistic that by contextualizing the global PPH roadmap to our country’s unique circumstances, we will make significant strides. Let’s continue challenging norms, using all forms of data effectively, & prioritizing #WhatWomenWant, recognizing that beyond the #numbers are lived #realities of women and their newborns. Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society USAID MOMENTUM Robyn Churchill CNM, MSN, FACNM AlignMNH Fatima Gohar

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The biennial report of the #HealthierPopulations cluster at #WHOAFRO is out! I invite you to explore the results & stories that reflect our ongoing efforts with partners towards the goal of promoting #HealthierPopulationsinAfrica More: shorturl.at/eqSV6 #HealthForAll

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Our partnership with Kisumu County has led to transformational changes in the health sector, significantly reducing maternal mortality. This collaboration is not just about addressing immediate healthcare needs- it is a model for how digital solutions can revolutionize healthcare delivery across Kenya.   By integrating M-Tiba by CarePay International and #SafeCare, we are using data-driven decision-making to empower patients, optimize resource allocation, and improve health outcomes across the county. These innovations highlight the potential of digitalization to create more sustainable health systems.   This progress is a direct result of the dedication and leadership of Dr. Gregory Ganda and his team in transforming COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF KISUMU into a hub of healthcare innovation.   Read more about this journey and how technology is re-imagining healthcare in Kisumu County: https://lnkd.in/epWeX7kb   #DigitalHealth #MTiba #SafeCare #MaternalHealth #HealthInnovation #KisumuCounty #PharmAccess #CarePay

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𝗡𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗯-𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀. As thousands gather next week in Nairobi for the Global Digital Health Forum (#GDHF2024), the focus is on how digital innovation is transforming healthcare access across Africa. In a timely op-ed, Kanishka Katara, Chief Digital Health Officer at Living Goods and a featured speaker at #GDHF2024, urges governments and stakeholders to prioritize scaling proven, cost-effective digital health solutions that save lives and build resilient health systems. Some of the insights from the op-ed: ✅ Digital health solutions are already driving measurable improvements in healthcare access and outcomes in Africa. ✅ Scaling sustainable innovations is critical to addressing health inequities and ensuring every community has access to care. The call to action is clear: Governments, donors, and tech companies must act now to invest in and expand these life-saving solutions. They must adopt policies and invest in equitable, long-term digital health solutions that unleash the power of community health workers (#CHWs). Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia Lwala Community Alliance PATH Jhpiego Google Amazon Web Services (AWS) Microsoft Dimagi Medic USAID The Global Fund The World Bank Johnson & Johnson Peery Foundation JSI Qualcomm Google Health Society for Family Health Nigeria Girl Effect Jacaranda Health ICF Reach Digital Health RTI International. #digitalhealth, #mhealth, #hybridevent, #digitalhealth, #saluddigital #eHealth #healthinformatic 📖 Read the op-ed here:

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And the interlinkages provide a unique opportunity for cross learning of innovations and adaptations especially for sustainability beyond the specific project life.

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Could healthcare equity be the key to Ethiopia’s next big economic leap? While I was reading Ethiopia’s new National Health Equity Strategic Plan I learnt that the MOH is paving the way for an ambitious 5-year strategy that isn’t just about access, it’s about ensuring every Ethiopian receives equitable healthcare. I believe that for investors, this is more than a healthcare initiative, it’s a great investment in the nation’s productivity and economic resilience and here is how: 1. Vision: A healthier, more productive workforce drives economic growth. 📍Early investment can align you with Ethiopia’s goals for inclusive development. 2.Challenges: Rural and low income communities need innovative healthcare solutions. 📍This opens markets for investors in tech, infrastructure, and health services. 3. Strategic Directions: Priorities include facility upgrades, community health, and data driven decisions. 📍Ethiopia’s commitment here is a promising sign for sustainable, impactful investment. 4. Collaborative Implementation: it plans a coordinated approach across ministries, regional bureaus, and local communities, with a structured plan to monitor and adjust as needed. 📍Multi sector private public partnerships foster alignment with local goals is ideal for impact driven investors. 5. Cost: With a 26.98 billion ETB investment need, health infrastructure and essential services present long-term economic and social returns. 📍This is a chance to invest with impact, supporting essential health projects aligned with Ethiopia’s strategic vision. Source: National Health Equity Strategic Plan (2020/21-2024/25) Image: Strategic framework for health equity, P37 #HealthEquity #HealthInnovation #Healthcare #investments #Ethiopia

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Yesterday, I shared some crucial insights at the Coalition for Women's Health in Africa (COWHA)-led webinar on the role of #Partnerships in enhancing access to #Women’s #Reproductive Health Solutions in #Africa. I started by pointing out that over the years, there has been a #missing actor in our partnership agenda: , the users of care and hence going forward, there is need to acknowledge; 🔹 The real experts: Women and girls, the users of care, are the true experts. 🔹 Common end goal: Women and girls (users of care), policymakers, product manufacturers, health providers, researchers, and others all want a common outcome, better health. 🔹 The heterogeneity of women: Women and girls are not a #homogeneous group; their needs vary based on their contexts and lived realities. Their unique needs must be #centerstage in our agenda. I further highlighted the notable challenges in advancing these partnerships; key ones being; 1. #Sidelining of the real experts: Often, the users of care are not involved in the design and delivery of health solutions. 2. #Passive recipients: Women and girls are seen as passive recipients rather than active architects of their health. 3.#Siloed Needs: Women’s needs are interdependent, yet often treated independently, making tangible outcomes elusive 4. #Health lens only: Womens' health needs are broader than health and include socio-economic determinants like climate change, economic power, education etc. 5. #Competition over #collaboration: Competing interests and egos hinder effective collaboration Pointers to consider in addressing the challenges: 🔹The need to drop the #empowerment narrative and catalyse the #intrinsic power of women and girls. Women and girls are born with power. The empowerment language is extrinsic and makes women #passive actors 🔹There is a need to drop the siloing of their needs: They are #multifaceted, and addressing them #holistically yields better outcomes and ensures maximizing of the limited resources in the African continent 🔹We need to #broaden our #perspective when thinking partnerships for womens' reproductive health needs beyond a #healthlens; acknowledging that their needs transcend the health sector, and adopt a #multisectoral approach. 🔹 Ask, Listen, Act approach: We need to start our #policy and #programming from a place of #Asking, #Listening and #Acting on what women and girls want. 🔹 Mindset Shift: From #tokenistic to meaningful partnerships, allowing for #introspection and #adaptive approaches. For this to happen, there needs to be a #mindset shift, allowing the users to hold us to account and accepting honest #feedback As we concluded, it was evident that by centering women and girls, we can drive sustainable and impactful change through partnerships; all that is needed is a mindset shift! #WhatWomenWant Caroline Wangamati Gathari Ndirangu Gichuhi Mokgadi (Lischen) Mashishi Kigen Kipkorir Prof. Julio Rakotonirina

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SHF is looking forward to being a part of the 2X Global Summit 2024 next week aiming to connect gender-smart capital to #sanitationeconomies and the emerging #menstrualhealth market to unlock multiple benefits for women and girls, and the communities and economies they power! From improved #health and #education outcomes to greater economic activity and leadership and growth opportunities, the possibilities of women and girls exercising their agency, in markets and societies, are limitless. Just like our ambition to strive for #nextgenerationsanitation and #menstrualproduct access for all as a fundamental pillar of a #genderequal, #sustainable future. Learn more about our approach: www.shfund.org MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, Grand Challenges Canada 

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One among of the questions that I was asked during the #UNHLM on #AMR at from People to Leaders side event act on AMR now! was 1. What could be the role of Pharmacies in ending AMR 2. What need to be done for religious leaders and faith based organizations to support AMR work? It was an opportunity to link what informal private Providers have done in ending #TB and #DR-TB and the same strategy can be done in the fight against #AMR.

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A big congratulations to Ministry Of Health Malawi and the Green Climate Fund for unlocking climate-health financing to strengthen Malawi’s health system and reduce the adverse effects of climate change on the well-being of its people.   Malawi is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, facing increasing temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and extreme weather events. But these climate impacts don’t just affect the environment - they have far-reaching effects on public health, including rising cases of malaria, diarrheal diseases, heat-related illnesses, food insecurity, and mental health challenges. Additionally, Malawi’s healthcare facilities and water infrastructure are directly impacted by these climate hazards. This financing will focus on six districts highly vulnerable to climate impacts - regions where poverty, food insecurity, gender inequality, and limited access to water and sanitation increase the risks.   This financing builds on the deep work led by Malawi in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation and Seed Global Health and many others to set up the evidence base for more effective scale investments from Green Climate Fund.   By improving health surveillance, early warning systems, and disease prevention methods, we aim to build a future where communities – especially the most vulnerable – are better equipped to handle the health impacts of climate change. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eu9PxjR2

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At the American Cancer Society, we are thrilled to do our part to reduce disparities and improve cancer outcomes in Africa alongside the #BidenCancerMoonshot. We currently collaborate with 14 committed partners across #africa to increase #accesstocare for #cancer patients and their loved ones through #patientnavigation-and we want to do more! Over the next 3 years, we will reach 50 new health institutions and cancer #CSOs in Africa with our Building Expertise, Advocacy, and Capacity for Oncology Navigation (BEACON) Initiative. BEACON is a global initiative that supports health institutions and cancer organizations in #LMICs focused on addressing #healthdisparities in cancer care, to design, implement, and sustain cancer patient navigation programs. BEACON also supports the integration of patient navigation into #cancercontrolplanning and #cancercaredelivery. #WhiteHouseAfricaCancerCareForum #GlobalCancerMoonshot

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Shaping markets for global health is crucial to building equitable health solutions that meet consumers with the products they want and need. In Kenya, Revital Healthcare (EPZ) Limited showcases how local innovation can reduce dependency on imports and strengthen health systems. A The New York Times profile highlights Revital’s approach to producing 300M syringes a year to meet over half of Africa's immunization needs. The takeaway: shaping markets will help us meet consumers with the health products they want and need – especially amidst a world of climate-induced health challenges and sociopolitical instability. Explore how: https://nyti.ms/3VD10gz 📷Pictured below are Population Services International's Head of Market Dynamics & Analytics Seth P. McGovern and Market Dynamics Advisor Eyapu Allan at the first ever Global Health Market Shaping Conference on a panel with Harsh Mehta, Director of International Business Development at Revital Healthcare. #GlobalHealth #MarketShaping #HealthInnovation #HealthEquity #HealthSystems #Immunization #ClimateResilience #PublicHealth

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This was an exceptional joint trip to South Sudan between the Global Fund and Gavi. Thank you to strong MOH leadership, community and implementing partners, and excellent Gavi and Global Fund colleagues. So many lessons but would briefly highlight: 1) joint health systems investments with the World Bank, Gavi, Global Fund and others has real potential to support MOH leadership and PHC progress; 2) global warming is affecting health outcomes today, heat, flooding, moving malaria map etc. but we're still doing way too little (hopefully more to come from GF on this soon); and 3) with ~80% of health visits being for malaria at the refugee camp and PHC centers we visited, fighting malaria is one of the best ways to improve health and help health systems deliver, but we must create ways to optimize impact across malaria interventions including new vaccines, SMC, new dual insecticide nets and more. More at Dr. Nishtar's link below, including very flattering photos... ;) https://lnkd.in/emv8N4d4

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The recently released State of Kenya’s Health Market 2024 report, by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the USAID Private Sector Engagement Program, highlights valuable insights into Kenya’s dynamic health sector. What stands out is the potential for growth, particularly in advancing local manufacturing. As Kenya builds capacity in local production, opportunities to strengthen the supply chain of health products and technologies are immense. This not only enhances access to essential health commodities but also paves the way for a more self-reliant, resilient health market. A call to action for both public and private sectors: let’s seize these opportunities to collectively advance the health agenda and make a real difference in Kenya’s healthcare landscape! https://lnkd.in/dsMYgQjh

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The #WorldBank and all multilateral lending agencies should work in public-private partnerships with #ESG #funds and #investors to finance large, long-term #climate projects. In 1980, I was a loan drawdown manager on a $1B Egyptian energy plant managed by #Bechtel, where the World Bank led 10 multilateral lending agencies. With open competitive bidding and third-party auditors, we avoided #nepotism, #corruption, and poor quality and came in on-time and on-budget, the first time in #Egypt, so massive climate projects are feasible with proper #governance, #transparency, #auditing and #reporting. Without them, project cost overruns and stolen money sink projects.

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With Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) accounting for approximately 71% of all deaths worldwide, it's clear that urgent action is needed [source: World Health Organization]. As a member of the eHealth Africa Board of Directors, I am immensely proud of our ongoing FREE medical outreach initiative, in collaboration with EHA Clinics, which aims to combat NCDs in underserved communities in Nigeria. Since kick-off, we have witnessed firsthand the impact of our efforts, with over 400 patients screened and close to 300 enrolled for treatment and management of Hypertension and Diabetes. The results of this initiative bring joy to my heart, knowing that we are making a tangible difference in the lives of individuals affected by NCDs. However, there is still much work to be done. We must continue to expand our reach and scale up our interventions to reach even more communities in need. read more about the outreach here :https://lnkd.in/gH9kFvfF #MedicalOutreach #healthcare #WeAreEHA #NCD #qualityhealthcare eHealth Africa

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This willl take a more deliberate and #unconventional approach if we are to win for #mothers and #newborns. The medical model alone will not meet the needs. As we think strengthening the clinical elements, we cannot ignore the other #social and #structural determinants. They play a key role in determining maternal and newborn outcomes

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Out of 2021 Public Health events recorded in Africa between 2001 and 2021, 56% were climate related. Today at the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice, we are delving into the nexus between #Climate and #Health #Inadequate technical capacities #Weak multisectoral collaboration and coordination #limited scientific evidence on Africa's vulnerabilities #Weak consideration of health in Climate negotiations #Inadequate equitable and unfair allocation of financial resources Are all critical challenges that the continent is facing. Pan African Climate Justice Alliance Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice

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Reach Digital Health and CIICHIN (SEEK-IN) have joined forces to further the Government of Rwanda's targets and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for improved maternal and newborn outcomes. Together, Reach and CIIC-HIN will focus on strengthening Antenatal Care (ANC) services, empowering mothers, promoting healthy behaviours, and improving mental health outcomes. This partnership represents a significant milestone in achieving global healthcare objectives by combining their expertise, technologies, and resources to bridge Rwanda's maternal and newborn healthcare gaps. Read more about how the two organisations will ensure that their efforts match the unique requirements and preferences of pregnant and postpartum women in Rwanda bit.ly/3I8RjPD #maternalhealth #newbornhealth #SDGs #digitalhealth #partnership #Rwanda #SouthAfrica #healthcare #innovation #impact #capacitybuilding #userresearch #healthtech #reachhealth

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