Newsletter January 2025

US decisions have far-reaching impact on global health

Decisions by US president Trump mark a turning point in global health: a withdrawal from the World Health Organization, a freeze of all foreign aid, and the reinstatement of the global gag rule. This can have a devastating impact on the health of millions of people in the world. Now is the time for governments worldwide to step up to sustain current funding in the short term, while working towards a more sustainable global health system in the future. Read more ➔

Mozambique: a strong case for debt cancellation

Mozambique is struggling with a severe debt crisis, limiting its potential to invest in essential services like health and education. Over the last decade, the country's debt has risen to over USD 11.3 billion – more than half its GDP. In our new brief, co-authored by N’weti and Wemos, we highlight debt cancellation as a viable solution to free Mozambique from its vicious debt cycle, enabling investments in healthcare, education and sustainable development. Read more ➔

Uncover hidden biases with the IBPA tool

Policies often reflect the biases and power dynamics of their creators, leading to inequities. The Make Way Intersectionality-Based Policy Analysis (IBPA) tool reveals these hidden imbalances, guiding users to critically analyse policies and humanize policymaking. The tool fosters the creation of equitable and inclusive policies. Explore our new infographic for an overview of the IBPA tool, including its purpose and process. See the infographic ➔

Beijing+30 preparation meetings: achieving gender equality

What an incredible time our Make Way partner and youth representatives had at the Beijing+30 preparation meetings at the end of 2024! We spoke with Make Way partner, Nexus Youth Initiative (represented by Agnes Cavillah Namuwonge), and Make Way youth representatives Coreen Mwebaze and Elizabeth Warindi to hear about the importance of the meetings in achieving gender equality. They also walk us through the salience of youth representation, the role of intersectionality and their key takeaways. Read more ➔

Make Way for Youth podcast episode 7: African Disability Protocol

Have you heard about the African Disability Protocol? Tune into episode seven with experts, Irene Ngolo from Cheshire Disability Services Kenya and Daphne Visser from Liliane Fonds, to learn all about the Protocol and why its ratification is important, especially for persons with disabilities. You will also learn about the different cultural perspectives and stigma facing persons with disabilities in Africa and actionable ways to support the disability justice movement. Listen on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.

Response to Bloomberg article about patient’s rights abuses at World Bank-funded hospitals

On January 16^th, Bloomberg reported about patient’s rights abuses at private healthcare facilities funded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. In some cases, patients could not leave after their treatments ended until they could pay their bills. The cases underscore a critical issue we raised in 2022: IFC health investments often neglect equitable access to healthcare. Read more ➔

Watch back: Geneva Global Health Hub sessions

Last week, we (co-)organized two sessions as part of the policy dialogue series of the Geneva Global Health Hub. In the session on financialization and capital investment in the health sector, panellists examined public funding of private healthcare amid cases of patient rights violations in Development Finance Institution-backed hospitals. In the session on the WHO Code of Practice, panellists discussed how the Code can be strengthened to protect the rights of migrating health workers. Watch the recordings of the finance session and health workers session. You can also find uploaded presentations on the website. Read more ➔

Wemos tips & picks

'La Gran Seducción' is a charming film about a small Mexican island struggling without a doctor. When a fishing company requires medical care to set up operations on the island, the villagers must recruit and convince a city doctor to stay. The film captures the community’s creative efforts while shedding light on the social consequences of inadequate healthcare. With humour and heart, it’s a feel-good story about the power of human connection. Read more ➔