World Health Assembly 77.

The Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly was held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 27 May–1 June 2024. Under the theme ‘All for Health, Health for All’, and as the premier global health policy-making body, the Assembly brought together representatives from all World Health Organization (WHO) member states, as well as advocates, funders and stakeholders from across global health.

The Coalition and partners sought to influence WHA discussions and decision-making at the highest-level. Together we aimed to:

• influence Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and its strategies for immunization
• engage countries with active policy review windows
• facilitate the inclusion of evidence-based and technically sound proCHW statements on the official WHA proceedings

As a Coalition we understand that health for all must mean health for even the most marginalized communities at the last mile. This can only occur by fully integrating community health, and proCHWs, into formal health systems. And CHIC advocacy centered on this fact.

Throughout the assembly, we closely followed relevant agenda items including the Immunization Agenda 2030,Universal Health Coverage, Pandemic Accord, and Maternal and Child Health. As a Coalition we know that to address these areas and truly reach health for all, community health programs must be set up to succeed. Here’s what we saw at WHA77.

CHWs & IMMUNIZATION.

At the Coalition we have been working with Gavi to prioritize CHWs in strategic investments. We added to this at our side event where stakeholders from across the immunization response shared opportunities for Gavi to support last-mile immunization delivery through proCHWs.

PROCHW LANGUAGE.

This year, we saw a powerful uptake of proCHW messaging in official proceedings at the WHA, especially during the discussion on reaching goals on maternal and child mortality. Country delegations from Australia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Tanzania and Zimbabwe highlighted CHWs as vital for responsive, equitable and resilient health systems. These endorsements underscore the growing influence of our movement, including among higher income countries. With Brazil, in particular, steering the G20 this year, we see potential opportunities for the proCHW movement to shape the global health agenda further.

Non-state actors also had an opportunity to address the Assembly, and CHIC took part in several Constituency Statements which referenced the critical role of CHWs. And in several high level side events, key experts spoke out strongly about the critical role of CHWs!

CHWs IN THE ROOM!

Last year, Margaret Odera was the singular CHW Advocate at WHA. This year, due to support from Coalition members and allies, three CHW Advocates took the mic at side events. Maureen Mauda spoke at our side event, John Wabwire spoke at a Pandemic Action Network event, and Aisha Musiko Hamis and Kiden Josephine Laja spoke at immunization events. The expertise, passion and vital contributions that these Advocates brought to discussions prove that there is no longer an excuse to not have CHWs in the room whenever community health is discussed. We look forward to more CHWs attending next year!

PANDEMIC AGREEMENT.

We were alarmed by the clear equity and accountability gaps in the Pandemic Agreement negotiations to date. CHWs were removed from Article 7 of the Agreement late in the game and reference to the Agreement were removed entirely. Negotiations are still ongoing on the Pandemic Agreement. But we must ask if can we trust a Pandemic Agreement that is not binding.

Despite a successful World Health Assembly, we know there is more to do if we are to realize quality care for all, including those that provide it. 

GAVI PROCHW STRATEGY.

The Gavi Board is scheduled to meet in June to finalize its 6.0 organizational strategy. We are also working to influence CHW prioritization within the Health Systems Support Strategy, which will underpin countries’ requests for stronger, more resilient immunization delivery. We are actively working to influence Gavi at both Board and Secretariat level, and are optimistic about making Gavi a proCHW institution.

DEBATE AT THE UN.

The UN General Assembly will meet this September and consider critical health issues in the official session, including Antimicrobial Resistance and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). And we must take the lessons learned from WHA77 to UNGA and influence discussiiosn there so that we can win proCHW policy in every country.

CHW FINANCING.

One of the core goals that Brazil is looking to progress during its G20 presidency this year, — which culminates at the G20 Meeting on 18-19 November — is debt swaps for health. Their proCHW statements at WHA 2024 suggest an opportunity to explore debt swaps as a potential funding mechanism for community health.

GROWING THE PROCHW MOVEMENT.

Systems change is a team sport, and everyone has a role to play. The success of our mission depends on radical collaboration with members, allies, CHW advocates, and other movements who share our commitment to recognising CHWs as health workers best placed to help us reach health for all. Are you from another movement or collaborating across movements? Join us in championing proCHWs!