CONNECT Health
ANNOUNCING THE CONNECT HEALTH PROGRAMME. New content from other themes and topic journeys is coming soon – sign up to our newsletter and follow us on socials to be notified.
Please note that titles and days are subject to change.
Featured speakers
Dr Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO, Amref Health Africa
A passionate advocate for pro-poor Universal Health Coverage, Githinji leads the largest Africa-led international organisation, reaching more than 11 million people each year through 150 projects across 35 countries.
Day 1: Tuesday 2 May
All Systems & People Connecting
Experts, changemakers, decision-makers, assemble! Here’s where we get acquainted with the themes, experiences, people and ideas. We’ll begin to make connections between our own wicked problems, meet future allies and start considering what actions to take.
Supporting robust, high-quality health systems through WASH
Water, sanitation and hygiene are critical for ensuring health and wellbeing. COVID-19 demonstrated, once again, the important role water, sanitation and hygiene play in preventing the spread of pathogens in the community, healthcare facilities, schools and other public settings. WASH must be part of the strategy to strengthen the health system, both for the delivery routine services and to prepare for and respond to outbreaks. How are these two sectors currently aligned and what more is needed for WASH to be better integrated into health sector (public and medical) priorities, planning and budgeting.
Co-hosts/contributors
Dr Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO, Amref Health Africa
Dr Mary Eyram Ashinyo, Deputy Director, Quality Assurance Department, Institutional Care Division Ghana Health Service
Safer Healthcare Facilities through WASH and Infection Prevention and Control
Resilient Health Systems and WASH: Opportunities and Collaboration for Systemic Actions.
Co-hosts/contributors
Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
Aligning Climate-Resilient Health & WASH Agendas
Impacts due to climate change pose a risk to water and sanitation systems; if these systems fail, they in turn threaten human health. As the health and WASH sectors develop climate-smart agendas, where are there overlaps and how do we work together to advocate within the climate space?
Co-hosts/contributors
IRC, Amref Health Africa, WaterAid
Day 2: Wednesday 3 May
Connecting systems, taking leadership
On day two, we’ll get into exactly how we go about national systems strengthening. Continue making connections, building know-how and sharing solutions.
Collaborative Health System Strengthening: Examples of WASH Integration
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Systems Thinking and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: Examples from Kenya's Afya Jijini Program - Corus International.
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From Health System Strengthening and WASH4Health to the One Health approach, DR Congo - Malteser
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Thinking outside the WASH box: Integrate for impact (on child health, growth and development) – Sanitation Hub
Co-hosts/contributors
Corus International, Malteser, Sanitation Hub
Working Alongside Disease-Specific Health Programming
Within the health system, disease-specific programming still is prevalent. As such, WASH partners need to adapt their strategies to work alongside these efforts. How did working with WASH partners work and what else can we do to make it system strengthening? How does reaching across systems work?
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Can collaboration on disease prevention increase the impact and equity of WASH services? (NTDs session) - SCI, WHO
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Integrating WASH and Nutrition - FCDO, British Embassy in Nepal
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Third session TBC
Co-hosts/contributors
Lead TBC, SCI, WHO, FCDO/British Embassy in Nepal
The role of women and girls in designing solutions to WASH in healthcare
Poor WASH conditions in healthcare facilities disproportionately impact women and girls. Women make up 70% of the healthcare workforce (while leadership remains predominantly male) and women and girls are frequent users of healthcare facilities and have unique WASH needs, including during labor and delivery as well as menstrual hygiene and post-partum hygiene management. What strategies can WASH and health partners use to better engage women and girls in the process of designing gender-responsive solutions to these challenges.
Co-hosts/contributors
IRC, White Ribbon Alliance, International Confederation of Midwives
Day 3: Thursday 4 May
Assemble for action
Day three is where it gets really exciting. We’ll bring you together to synthesise learning and agree actions. You’ll take part in topic assemblies and cross-sector networking, provoked and inspired by the short reflections of our Wisdom Councils. We’ll flip the usual conference format and make sure you’re in the driving seat. What are the big issues you’ve heard about? What new connections have you made and which ones still need to be made? How will we all champion each other’s agendas? What do you want to happen next? How can we make sure we capitalise on the power of us?
UN Water Conference 2023: following up with the ‘how’ for health
Part 1: How will we take forward next steps outlined in the Water and Health Interactive Dialogue Background paper, prepared by WHO and UNICEF, the "game-changing" SDG Action Agenda water and health commitments, and the side events?
Part 2: Synthesising what we’ve learned from Days 1 and 2
Co-hosts/contributors
WHO, IRC
