World Health Assembly 76.

CHIC at WHA76.

The Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly was held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 21–30 May 2023.

Under the theme ‘WHO at 75: Saving lives, driving health for all’, and as the premier global health policy-making body, the Health Assembly brought together representatives from all World Health Organization (WHO) member states, as well as stakeholders from across global health.

The Coalition and partners were in attendance advocating for the professional CHW (proCHW) movement. Our goal? To make sure that proCHWs given the attention they deserve at the highest levels of government and included in properly resourced policies and strategies.

Throughout the assembly, we closely followed relevant agenda items including:

Margaret Odera speaking at the 76th World Health Assembly alongside another speaker

Margaret Odera at WHA76

Advocacy Objectives & Wins.

CHIC’s advocacy at WHA76 focused on ensuring proCHW language and policies were integrated into WHO priorities on infant and newborn health, universal health coverage, and pandemic preparedness.

Due to the radical collaboration of CHIC members, allies, and CHW Advocates we saw many advocacy wins at WHA76.

The Tanzania and Zanzibar delegation put out a statement highlighting proCHW priorities on community health care, primary health care, pandemic preparedness and health for all. And a specific mention of the need to transition from community health volunteers to community health workers!

The Zero Draft for the Political Declaration on UHC maintained the five proCHW priorities embedded within the previous version and now also includes digital health systems at community level. There is also now an explicit mention of CHWs being a skilled workforce, as well as language on #payCHWs and gender considerations being stronger.

CHWs talking truth to power.

The lone CHW in attendance at WHA76, Margaret Odera was a powerful champion for the proCHW movement, calling for all CHWs to be salaried, skilled, supervised and supplied.

Margaret fearlessly spoke truth to power throughout WHA76, speaking at high-level debates, side events, and to the media. But she was the only CHW in attendance. This is not good enough. Margaret’s expertise, passion and vital contributions show that there is no longer an excuse to not have CHWs involved in decision-making and on the stage. It’s time for change.

Join us.

We’re making professional community health workers (proCHWs) the norm worldwide by changing guidelines, funding, and policy.

Inspired to join the proCHW movement and collaborate on advocacy moving forward? We would love to have you join us!

RESOURCE LIBRARY

proCHW Policy Dashboard.

The largest ever public dashboard for community health worker policies.

CHW Advocates are seizing power.

For too long, discussions about community health workers (CHWs) have been happening without CHWs in the room. It’s time for a change. Community health workers are seizing power.

The Case for CHWs: Champions of the Health System.

The role of community health workers (CHWs) in improving health equity and coverage.