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Decolonization in international health cooperation: Are we ready for it?
MMS Bulletin #168

März 2024

Decolonization in international health cooperation: Are we ready for it?

Symposiumsreader

The decolonization debate in international cooperation is not simply a new debate around power relations: It asks fundamental questions about the foundations of the development sector and its practices and brings a new analytical quality to international cooperation in general and to global health in particular. At its jubilee Symposium 2023, MMS critically examined the colonial roots of global health, which continue to shape the work of international cooperation. Questions about overcoming the unequal power dynamics in partnerships between North and South were at the center of the discourse, as was the upcoming transformation of the sector. In-depth insights and reflections as well as the results of the study commissioned by MMS on what decolonization means for MMS member organizations are presented in this bulletin.

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Magazine

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How can a transformation be shaped? Insights from MMS member organisations

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Are we ready for a paradigm shift?

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Introduction

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What does the International Women’s Day 2024 Theme: ‘Inspiring Inclusion’ mean to my daughter, a 16-year-old who has been living with epilepsy since she was 8 months old?
Photo: © Chandra-Mouli
MMS Bulletin #168

März 2024

What does the International Women’s Day 2024 Theme: ‘Inspiring Inclusion’ mean to my daughter, a 16-year-old who has been living with epilepsy since she was 8 months old?

Reflexions from a father

The campaign theme for the International Women's Day (IWD) for this year is Inspiring Inclusion (1): The IWD website notes that ‘When we inspire others to understand and value woman's inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there is a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.’

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La nature, alliée de notre santé -
Foto von David Marcu auf Unsplash
MMS Bulletin #168

März 2024

La nature, alliée de notre santé - "Nature Deficit Disorder"

A propos d’interactions entre les humains et la biosphère

Le concept de "Nature Deficit Disorder"- NDD (syndrome de manque de nature en français) a été introduit par l'auteur américain Richard Louv dans un livre de 2005, « Last Child in the Woods ». Les humains, et notamment les enfants, sont de plus en plus confinés en milieu urbain, avec la promiscuité et les pollutions que cela implique, passent de moins en moins de temps en plein air, et sont ainsi susceptibles de développer divers troubles. Louv a publié par la suite d’autres ouvrages, dont "Vitamin N" (N pour Nature).

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Dekolonisierung der internationalen Zusammenarbeit: Ein Konzept vor seiner Delegitimierung?
MMS Symposium 2023. Photo: Christoph Engeli / © Network Medicus Mundi Switzerland
MMS Bulletin #168

März 2024

Dekolonisierung der internationalen Zusammenarbeit: Ein Konzept vor seiner Delegitimierung?

Überlegungen zur historisch-politischen Dimension und dem Nutzen des Begriffs der Dekolonisierung

​Das Netzwerk Medicus Mundi Schweiz setzt sich seit bald zwei Jahren mit dem Thema der Dekolonisierung auseinander. Je deutlicher dabei geworden ist, was im Rahmen der anstehenden Transformation der internationalen Zusammenarbeit angestrebt werden soll, umso mehr droht die notwendige Veränderung am Verlust der politischen Bedeutung ihrer Terminologie zu verwischen.

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Is Cooperation at Eye Level Possible?
MMS Symposium 2023. Photo: Christoph Engeli / © Network Medicus Mundi Switzerland
MMS Bulletin #168

März 2024

Is Cooperation at Eye Level Possible?

A Donor Perspective

If money is power, then those providing it, i.e., donors are de facto influential stakeholders. This power, however, can serve as a catalyst to level out power dynamics that pervade the Development and Cooperation Sector.

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How to Respond to the Call for Decolonization?
MMS Symposium 2023. Photo: Christoph Engeli / © Network Medicus Mundi Switzerland
MMS Bulletin #168

März 2024

How to Respond to the Call for Decolonization?

Interview by Carine Weiss with Labila Sumayah Musoke and Thomas Schwarz

The Network Medicus Mundi Switzerland has embarked on the discussion of what decolonisation means for its members and for international health cooperation for several years. From the debates it became clear that there is a need for more in depth discussions and support in order to move forward and make shifts in this rather complex topic.

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Are We Ready for Decolonisation?
Foto von Etienne Girardet auf Unsplash
MMS Bulletin #168

März 2024

Are We Ready for Decolonisation?

Reflections on an Outstanding MMS Symposium

In 2023, a powerful MMS Symposium entitled The Changing Role of CSOs in International Health Cooperation and Global Health took place in which the member organisations shared a mutual need to challenge the biases within ourselves and the institutions in which we work. If we want to get to the heart of the impact these biases are having on both the Global South and the North, it is necessary for us to undertake an ongoing process of reflection.

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Decolonisation: From Rhetoric to Action
Creating Safe spaces for exchange and supporting young people to be actors in projects and not just clients. Photo: © tdhs
MMS Bulletin #168

März 2024

Decolonisation: From Rhetoric to Action

Experience with decolonity in terre des hommes schweiz

From promoting gender equality to ensuring the participation of marginalised groups, the development sector has always been known to acknowledge and confront injustices that permeate the sector. Although many successes have been registered in this regard, recent calls to challenge the ‘deeply rooted systems of dominance and power of international, mostly Western organizations and institutions’ has brought to the fore an injustice that remains glaring - a development cooperation approach with structural power inequalities predicated upon the superiority of Global North actors over their counterparts in the South.

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Shifting roles in a changing world
Photo: © Croix Rouge Béninoise
MMS Bulletin #168

März 2024

Shifting roles in a changing world

Localisation of Aid at the Swiss Red Cross

Localisation is a key aspect towards sustainable cooperation programme implementation. To succeed, it is crucial to listen to the voice of the local partners and acknowledge and respect that they are in the lead. Partners and donors alike need to have an appropriate institutional framework – vision, strategy, guidelines – to live such an approach and truly embark on localisation. Localisation requires a changed approach, attitude, and value system on an institutional level to whole-heartedly support locally-led action and strengthen local partners and shift the role from an implementer to a facilitator, enabler, knowledge broker or mere observer and ultimately retire as a Northern NGO in international cooperation.

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Under threat: the International AIDS Society–Lancet Commission on Health and Human Rights
Foto von Hanna Zhyhar auf Unsplash
22.03.2024

Under threat: the International AIDS Society–Lancet Commission on Health and Human Rights

New report

The Lancet Commissions "2023 marked the 75th anniversary of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration articulates an inspiring vision of a world that is just, equitable, tolerant, and strategically focused on actions to address the most vulnerable and marginalised populations—a counterpoint to the atrocities, repression, and colonialism that characterised much of the 20th century. Endorsement of the Universal Declaration was not commensurate with reality in many cases— especially because numerous signatories still had colonies and because Cold War politics resulted in divisions of social, economic, and political rights into separate international covenants—but it nevertheless inspired decades of progress. (...) Yet the future of the health and human rights paradigm is uncertain, partly as a result of major changes in the global political and economic environment. The COVID-19 pandemic was a failed test case for the world's commitment to international solidarity, equity, and human rights."

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Kommt jetzt ein Pandemie-Vertrag? «Die WHO ist keine Superregierung, die etwas unabhängig durchsetzen kann»
Foto von Nick Fewings auf Unsplash
22.03.2024

Kommt jetzt ein Pandemie-Vertrag? «Die WHO ist keine Superregierung, die etwas unabhängig durchsetzen kann»

Interview mit Martin Leschhorn Strebel, Geschäftsführer Medicus Mundi Schweiz

bz – Zeitung für die Region Basel "Um sich gegen globale Gesundheitskrisen besser zu wappnen, arbeitet die Weltgesundheitsorganisation WHO an einem globalen Pandemievertrag. Massnahmengegner aus der Corona-Zeit befürchten den Verlust der Unabhängigkeit. Taucht ein neuer bösartiger Erreger auf, ist eine weitere Pandemie durchaus möglich. Schon während der Corona-Pandemie machte sich die Weltgesundheitsorganisation WHO daran, einen weltweiten Pandemievertrag zu erarbeiten. Inzwischen liegt nach sieben Verhandlungsrunden ein Textentwurf vor, über den im Mai 2024 an der 77. Weltgesundheitsversammlung der WHO in Genf abgestimmt werden soll."

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Program SRHR Conference 24 April 2024 - PDF

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Latest pandemic treaty draft text still has 'many weaknesses'
Foto von Mufid Majnun auf Unsplash
15.03.2024

Latest pandemic treaty draft text still has 'many weaknesses'

Next week, countries are going to be engaged in another two-week marathon to hash out the details of the pandemic agreement.

Devex "The pandemic agreement negotiations are entering the home stretch, but NGOs and global health observers are still not happy with the latest draft of the agreement. The revised draft, dated March 7, was circulated to partners over the weekend. It comes after a two-week marathon session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, or INB, that ended March 1, and one week ahead of its scheduled final session that starts on March 18, where member states are expected to engage in text-based negotiations for nine days. According to observers and NGOs, the text remains weak on compliance, and text on the hot-button issue of pathogen access and benefit sharing still does not equate to equal benefits for low- and middle-income countries."

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UN chief calls for global action to defend women’s rights amid disturbing trends
Photo: John Gillespie/flickr.com; CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed
13.03.2024

UN chief calls for global action to defend women’s rights amid disturbing trends

The 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women is taking place from 11 to 22 March at the UN Headquarters, in New York.

United Nations "The UN Secretary-General on Monday highlighted the urgent need to defend women's rights which are under threat, citing a reversal in hard-won progress, increasing violence against women and a growing digital gender divide. Addressing the opening of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the pivotal forum dedicated to promoting and safeguarding the rights of women and girls worldwide, Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the disproportionate impact of wars on women. “In conflict zones around the globe, women and girls are suffering most from wars waged by men,” he said, urging immediate ceasefires and humanitarian aid."

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Great need in Mozambique
Photo: © Alfredo Zuniga/ATP 27.02.2024, Namapa, Mosambik
12.03.2024

Great need in Mozambique

The humanitarian crisis in northern Mozambique is hitting the poorest of the poor.

SolidarMed "In Chiúre District, SolidarMed's project region in Mozambique, attacks by Non State Armed Groups have been flaring up since last December. Since then, the population is deprived from essential health care services. Many of those affected had fled from earlier attacks in the north of the district to the Chiúre region. Now they are on the move again, out of Chiúre, without water, without protection from the rain or sun and, of course, without medical care. - «Healthcare in the Chiúre district has completely collapsed because most of the health workers have fled.»

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Podcast «Artikel Sieben» - #6: Hitzewellen und das Recht auf Leben
06.03.2024

Podcast «Artikel Sieben» - #6: Hitzewellen und das Recht auf Leben

humanrights.ch "Jeder Mensch hat ein Recht auf Leben. So steht es in Art. 10 BV und in Art. 2 EMRK. In der neuen Folge des Podcast «Artikel Sieben» beschäftigen wir uns mit der Frage, ob der Staat mehr gegen den Klimaerwärmung tun muss, um dieses Recht auf Leben zu schützen. Ein Gespräch mit Rechtsanwältin Cordelia Bähr. (...) Eine Gruppe von älteren Frauen aus der Schweiz, die Klimaseniorinnen, hat die Schweiz vor dem EGMR eingeklagt. Sie machen geltend, dass durch das Untätigbleiben der Schweiz zur Verhinderung der Klimaerwärmung ihr Recht auf Leben gefährdet sei. In ihrer Argumentation stützten sie sich auf das Klimaziel des Pariser Abkommens, das eine Erwärmung von höchstens 1,5°C festschreibt."

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New PEPFAR Youth Initiative: $20 Million to Address HIV/AIDS Among Youth
Photo: iEARN-USA/flickr.com; CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Deed
05.03.2024

New PEPFAR Youth Initiative: $20 Million to Address HIV/AIDS Among Youth

U.S. Department of State "The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), led by the State Department’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, announced a new $20 million initiative to strengthen youth-focused HIV programming, center youth HIV leadership, and promote innovation in HIV prevention, case finding, and treatment outcomes in PEPFAR-supported countries. Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Senior Bureau Official for Global Health Security and Diplomacy, made the announcement about PEPFAR’s Youth Initiative during a hybrid youth special session in Cape Town, South Africa, alongside thousands of youth from around the world."

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Le FIFDH dévoile son programme !  Entre résistances et révoltes : le pouvoir des images
Photo: © FIFDH
08. März 2024 – Du 8 au 17 mars, Genève

Le FIFDH dévoile son programme ! Entre résistances et révoltes : le pouvoir des images

FIFDH "Le rideau se lève sur la 22e édition du Festival du film et forum international sur les droits humains de Genève. La programmation 2024 esquisse les contours d’un futur meilleur en exploitant la force du cinéma et des grandes voix des droits humains. Rejoignez-nous pour 10 jours de films et de discussions engagées ! Dans un monde où les crises se multiplient et, plus inquiétant encore, semblent se renforcer entre elles, comment donner du sens à notre époque sans basculer dans le pessimisme ? "

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Many efforts yet few achievements: Where should healthcare quality improvement policies focus in LMICs?
Women's Health Clinic. Photo: advencap/flickr.com; CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed
05.03.2024

Many efforts yet few achievements: Where should healthcare quality improvement policies focus in LMICs?

British Medical Journal (bmj) "Challenges related to availability and access to good quality healthcare services contribute to about 15% of deaths in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, the attention to quality healthcare in many countries has not been adequate, albeit rising over the years. Several studies highlight challenges in healthcare quality, including the availability of health services, clinical care and patient experience. Recently, a study from Uttar Pradesh (UP) in India analysed the reasons behind significantly higher mortality in newborn babies born in rural private health facilities compared to childbirths in public and private facilities in urban areas. In line with many other observations, the paper has highlighted several reasons relevant to the issue of suboptimal quality of healthcare in LMICs, indicating several systemic and policy challenges."

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Transition to sunset: the future of foreign aid for basic health services in Africa
Foto von rupixen auf Unsplash
05.03.2024

Transition to sunset: the future of foreign aid for basic health services in Africa

Global health institutions, controlled by a small group of countries and private foundations, have a fundamental design flaw and they are not fit for purpose. Olusoji Adeyi of Johns Hopkins and Justice Nonvignon of African CDC offer a prescription for donors.

Development Today "After decades of lofty promises, mixed successes, catastrophic failures, and billions of dollars spent, the time is ripe to fundamentally change the construct and duration of global health grant-financing institutions and initiatives (GHIs). We acknowledge that GHIs – including multilaterals, bilaterals, and foundations – have contributed to some short-term progress in health service delivery and elements of health system development in Africa, but there remain questions about the sustainability of such progress. Our reflections and propositions address the more fundamental issue of medium-to-long term effects of the GHIs’ status quo on Africa: given the power imbalances and collective dysfunctions of GHIs, cui bono? In seeking answers to this puzzle, we encourage readers to ponder the implications for global health of Wole Soyinka’s searing wisdom: “Truth for me is freedom, is self-destination. Power is domination, control, and therefore a very selective form of truth, which is a lie.”

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Washington, D.C. Community  Consensus on the Earlier  Inclusion of Pregnant Women  and Persons in TB Research
Foto von Suhyeon Choi auf Unsplash
05.03.2024

Washington, D.C. Community Consensus on the Earlier Inclusion of Pregnant Women and Persons in TB Research

Treatment Action Group (TAG) "We, sixteen representatives of communities affected by tuberculosis (TB) and with experience related to TB in pregnancy, met in Washington, D.C., on October 25– 28, 2023, to develop a consensus on the inclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding women and persons* in TB treatment and vaccines research. The community meeting was part of a larger convening hosted by the Supporting, Mobilizing, and Accelerating Research for Tuberculosis Elimination (SMART4TB) Consortium, the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials (IMPAACT) Network, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Global TB Program (Tuberculosis and pregnancy: Laying the groundwork for consensus on inclusion in research)."

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African scientists slam ‘unequal’ pandemic treaty
Photo: U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa/flickr.com; CC BY 4.0 Deed
05.03.2024

African scientists slam ‘unequal’ pandemic treaty

Sci Def Net "A group of African scientists is urging their governments to demand a review of the role of global North-based international health organisations in shaping the new global pandemic preparedness and response treaty before its finalisation at the World Health Assembly in May. The group – known as the Pan-African Epidemic and Pandemic Working Group – says international health policies should prioritise low-income countries with high disease burdens, criticising the current draft as “colonialist”."

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Launch of the Global Initiative on Digital Health
Foto von Nappy auf Unsplash
04.03.2024

Launch of the Global Initiative on Digital Health

World Health Organization (WHO) "The Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) is a WHO managed network of stakeholders organized to facilitate the implementation of the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025 and other WHO norms and standards for Digital Health System Transformation. The Initiative will serve as a platform to enable a wide global ecosystem to work collectively to promote country capacity and strengthen international cooperation in digital health. GIDH will prioritize the following core areas of work: assessing and prioritizing Member States’ needs, evaluating the availability and reporting of country-level digital health resources and identifying under-funded priorities, supporting technically and financially the accelerated achievement of the strategic objectives defined in the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025, building capacity and converging efforts to encourage developing, maintaining and adapting digital health technologies to continuously changing needs."

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The Pandemic Treaty: shameful and unjust
Foto von Norbert Braun auf Unsplash
04.03.2024

The Pandemic Treaty: shameful and unjust

Far from making amends, a handful of powerful countries are sabotaging the best chance to translate the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic into legally binding commitments that will protect us all.

The Lancet "The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), which is tasked under WHO with drawing up an international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, will sit for the 9th and final time from March 18–29. In the 2 years since it first met, hundreds of hours and unknown costs have been spent, but the political impetus has died. The convention is now at a critical juncture: the final text for countries to ratify is due to be presented at the World Health Assembly in May. With only limited days of negotiation left and a long way to go to secure a meaningful agreement, it is now or never for a treaty that can make the world a safer place."

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Mild Optimism? Countries Keen on Reaching May 2024 Finish Line for WHO’s New Pandemic Instrument, Within A Handful of Negotiating Days
Foto von Noah auf Unsplash
04.03.2024

Mild Optimism? Countries Keen on Reaching May 2024 Finish Line for WHO’s New Pandemic Instrument, Within A Handful of Negotiating Days

ABS emerges as a cornerstone of potential outcome. By Priti Patnaik & Nishant Sirohi

Geneva Health Files "​There is a distinct shift in the mood. Despite continuing divergences on key issues from technology transfer, financing, to access and benefit sharing, some countries are beginning to see a small possibility of concluding negotiations for a new Pandemic Instrument. However, the near-impossibility of reaching consensus on complex, technical matters within such a short time period, looms large in the hallways of the World Health Organization. With the number of remaining formal negotiating days ahead of May 2024 dwindling to single digits, WHO member states, nevertheless, continue to be keen on concluding talks to reach agreement in addition to finalizing amendments to the International Health Regulations. This emerging optimism could suggest two possibilities: a more likely one that could result in a watered-down agreement to meet the deadline, essentially a face-saving exercise; a second scenario - albeit somewhat rose-tinted, is that they would actually be able to put together a reasonable set of commitments that broadly meets the needs of most countries."

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«Avec de petites mesures on obtient rarement de grands résultats»
Foto von Noah Windler auf Unsplash
04.03.2024

«Avec de petites mesures on obtient rarement de grands résultats»

Interview de l’experte en développement durable Eva Schmassmann par Helvetas

Plateforme Agenda 2030 "Les ambitions sont trop faibles, les progrès trop limités. A ce rythme, la Suisse n’atteindra pas les objectifs de l’Agenda 2030 pour le développement durable. Nous avons parlé des points faibles du nouveau plan d’action 2024-2027 et de ce qu’il faudrait pour que la Suisse atteigne quand même les ODD. La question : Eva Schmassmann, où en est la Suisse dans la mise en œuvre de l’Agenda 2030? La répons : Dans l’ensemble, la Suisse n’est pas en bonne voie pour mettre en œuvre le programme de développement durable de l’ONU. C’est ce qu’avait déjà montré le rapport national qu’elle avait présenté en 2022 devant la communauté internationale réunie à New York. Dans ce rapport, le Conseil fédéral faisait une autocritique: «Le rythme n’est pas suffisant. Dans certains domaines, la direction n’est même pas la bonne, la Suisse s’éloigne de la réalisation de certains ODD»."

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Protection to prevent teenage pregnancies
Photo: © tdhs
04.03.2024

Protection to prevent teenage pregnancies

terre des hommes schweiz "Nicaragua has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the world. Violence against girls and women is also a daily occurrence. With our work, we help to promote the holistic development of young people, strengthen their right to a life free from violence and support the practice of safe and self-determined sexuality."

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Une journée dans la peau de nos démineurs
L’équipe de démineurs et démineuses au Sénégal, en attente de commencer le travail. Photo: © A. Stachurski / HI
04.03.2024

Une journée dans la peau de nos démineurs

Glissez-vous dans la tenue de protection de nos démineurs et démineuses au Sénégal pour vivre une journée à leurs côtés.

Handicap International Suisse (HI) "Lever à l’aube : Les équipes de déminage commencent tôt, pour arrêter avant les heures les plus chaudes. Première étape au bureau : chargement du matériel dans les véhicules. Pour rejoindre le village de Kouring à quarante minutes de route. La Casamance compte aujourd’hui encore de nombreuses zones dangereuses, polluées par des engins explosifs. De plus, outre les risques inhérents au métier, il fallait composer jusqu’à récemment avec la menace de groupes armés. Pour prévenir de tels incidents, nous nous assurons que toutes les mesures soient prises pour garantir la sécurité de nos équipes."

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Ukraine : l’utilisation des armes explosives ou les bombardements quotidiens et l’ampleur de la contamination isolent des villages, de nombreuses personnes âgées attendent près du front
Session de sensibilisation aux dangers liés aux mines et aux engins explosifs dans le village de Velyka Komyshuvakha, dans la région de Kharkiv. Photo: © M.Monier / HI
04.03.2024

Ukraine : l’utilisation des armes explosives ou les bombardements quotidiens et l’ampleur de la contamination isolent des villages, de nombreuses personnes âgées attendent près du front

Handicap International Suisse (HI) "L'utilisation massive d'armes explosives en Ukraine a détruit des routes, des hôpitaux, des écoles et isolé des régions entières. Nous attirons l'attention sur les dangers liés aux munitions non explosées ainsi que sur les besoins exacerbés des personnes qui n’ont pas pu fuir les zones de combat."

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Soutien aux personnes victimes du conflit en Ukraine
Photo: © CRS
04.03.2024

Soutien aux personnes victimes du conflit en Ukraine

La Croix-Rouge Suisse "Deux ans après l’escalade du conflit en Ukraine, la Croix-Rouge suisse poursuit ses activités en faveur des personnes déplacées ou exilées. En Suisse, elle soutient leur intégration. En Ukraine, elle vient en aide aux personnes déplacées qui ont tout perdu."

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La CRS soutient l’aide coordonnée en faveur de Gaza
Foto: © SRK
04.03.2024

La CRS soutient l’aide coordonnée en faveur de Gaza

La Croix-Rouge Suisse "A Gaza, le conflit perdure et la crise humanitaire continue de s’aggraver. En effectuant quotidiennement des livraisons de biens de première nécessité depuis l’Egypte, le Mouvement international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge met tout en œuvre pour atténuer la détresse des victimes. La Croix-Rouge suisse (CRS) participe aux secours, notamment en dépêchant des spécialistes de son pool d’aide d’urgence."

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8th Annual Forum of the Global Community of Practice on Scaling Development Outcomes (CoP)
11. März 2024 – Virtual sessions

8th Annual Forum of the Global Community of Practice on Scaling Development Outcomes (CoP)

Virutal sessions from: Monday, March 11- Tuesday, March 26, each day 10:00-11:30 EST

Scaling Up Community of Practice (CoP) "The 8th Annual Forum of the Global Community of Practice on Scaling Development Outcomes (CoP) will take place as a series of twelve 90-minute, virtual sessions spread over the two-and-a-half-week period from March 11th through March 26th. The program of events includes 3 plenary sessions focusing on cross-cutting issues and a total of 9 sessions on sectoral and thematic perspectives on scaling organized by nine of the CoP’s sectoral and thematic Working Groups. Please see the schedule of sessions below. To see details of each session and register, please navigate to the right side of the page, click on the plus icon (+) for the session you are interested in, and select ‘register’."

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Noma: giving a face to a deadly disease
Photo: © Swiss TPH
01.03.2024

Noma: giving a face to a deadly disease

On December 15, 2023, the World Health Organization officially added noma to the list of neglected tropical diseases, which will make it easier to combat and research this poverty-related disease. Swiss TPH and the University of Basel both played a key role in ensuring noma was recognized in this manner. By Christian Heuss

SwissTPH "Many people prefer to look the other way when it comes to this disease, as the sight of young children suffering from its effects is unbearable. It causes open wounds on the face and whole sections of the cheek appear to have been eaten away. Children who survive the disease remain disfigured throughout their lives and struggle with speech disorders and eating problems. Noma typically affects children between two and six years of age. The disease starts seemingly harmless as sore gums and mild bad breath. At this stage, the disease would be easy to cure with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. If left untreated, the infection spreads to tissue necrosis within a few days. First soft tissues die, then cartilage structures and bones are attacked and literally eaten away by the infection."

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Swiss TPH Symposium: Improving Access to Healthcare in LMICs
350 experts came together at Swiss TPH to discuss strategies to improve access to healthcare in LMICs. From left: Pierre Morgon (MRGN Advisors), Lutz Hegemann (Novartis), Honorati Masanja (Ifakara Health Institute) and Jutta Reinhard-Rupp (Merck). Photo: Swiss TPH / Joachim Pelikan
01.03.2024

Swiss TPH Symposium: Improving Access to Healthcare in LMICs

Summary of the Symposium 8 February 2024

SwissTPH "Access to drugs, diagnostics and vaccines remains a challenge in many in low- and middle-income countries. Today, 8 February 2024, Swiss TPH hosted a symposium bringing together 350 experts and key players from academia, the pharmaceutical industry, politics and product development partnerships to assess current strategies and foster synergies in research, drug development and medicines’ implementation.

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Extension du projet au Mexique: nouveautés et consolidation  des acquis
Des promoteur·ices de Madre Tierra Mexico participent é une brigade médicale solidaire en faveur des migrant·es centre-américain·es à Huixtl. Photo : © MTM
01.03.2024

Extension du projet au Mexique: nouveautés et consolidation des acquis

Le bulletin nº190 de mars 2024 de la CSSR

Centrale Sanitaire Suisse Romande (CSSR) "La CSSR transmet volontiers l'information suivante: La Centrale Sanitaire Suisse Romande publie son premier bulletin de l'année. Un bulletin sur le droit international et ses échecs, sur son nouveau projet au Mexique avec son partenaire Madre Tierra Mexico, sur les messages des autorités suisses vis-à-vis du Nicaragua, et sur la situation politique qui se détériore en Équateur. On vous souhaite une bonne lecture!"

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Ghana’s Parliament Passes Draconian Law With Prison Terms for People Who ‘Identify’ as LGBTIQ
Foto von Tanushree Rao auf Unsplash
01.03.2024

Ghana’s Parliament Passes Draconian Law With Prison Terms for People Who ‘Identify’ as LGBTIQ

Health Policy Watch "Ghana’s Parliament unanimously passed one of the world’s most draconian anti-LGBTIQ Bills on Wednesday, including a mandatory three-year prison sentence for a person who simply “identifies” as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer. Anyone funding an LGBTIQ organisation also faces five years in prison, while LGBTIQ “advocacy” involving children will result in a 10-year prison sentence – a clause that is so wide it could be applied to sex education in schools. Any media that reports or broadcasts anything related to LGBTQ+ people or activities also face fines and possible prison sentences."

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RUN for FUNds
Photo: © PSF
28.02.2024

RUN for FUNds

Pharmaciens Sans Frontières Suisse fait appel à vous pour rejoindre son équipe le dimanche 2 juin 2024 à Genève lors de la course Race for Gift !

Pharmaciens Sans Frontières Suisse "Il s’agit d’une course/marche caritative pour laquelle vous mobilisez votre réseau afin de récolter des fonds qui financeront le travail de PSF Suisse. En participant à Race for Gift, vous apportez une contribution précieuse à l’association qui a pour mission l’accès aux soins de qualité, partout et pour tous·tes, sans aucune discrimination. Forte de plus de 30 ans d'expérience, PSF Suisse développe des projets de coopération au développement au Liban, à Madagascar, en Tanzanie, au Soudan du Sud et en Suisse. Toutes les informations sur nos projets sont à retrouver sur notre site psf.ch."

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“Girls Shouldn’t Give Up On Their Studies
Photo: DFID - UK Department for International Development/flickr.com; CC BY 4.0 Deed
27.02.2024

“Girls Shouldn’t Give Up On Their Studies"

Pregnant Girls’ and Adolescent Mothers’ Struggles to Stay in School in Mozambique

Human Rights Watch "Mozambique’s government faces enormous challenges in advancing adolescent girls’ and women’s right to education. Many girls face discrimination, gender-based violence, and poverty. The country has the fifth highest rate of child marriage in the world. Its adolescent pregnancy rate is the highest in East and Southern Africa: 180 out of 1000 girls and young women ages 15 to 19 gave birth in 2023, in contrast with the regional average of 94 births “GIRLS SHOULDN’T GIVE UP ON THEIR STUDIES” 2 per 1000 girls. At least 1 in 10 girls has had a child before the age of 15, according to the United Nations. A 2019 study of data collected over time of primary school dropouts in Mozambique found that 70 percent of pregnant girls, many of whom were still enrolled in primary school past puberty due to their late enrollment, dropped out of school."

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Africa CDC Announces Pooled Medicines Procurement at AU Summit; Leaders Called Upon To Expedite African Medicines Agency Set-Up
Launch of Africa CDC Ministerial Executive Leadership Program | Addis Ababa, 18 February 2023. Photo: Paul Kagame/flickr.com; CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Deed
27.02.2024

Africa CDC Announces Pooled Medicines Procurement at AU Summit; Leaders Called Upon To Expedite African Medicines Agency Set-Up

Second independence of Africa

Health Policy Watch (HPW) "The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has announced the creation of a pooled African medicines procurement mechanism at the 37th African Union Summit, which ended yesterday. The mechanism aims to spearhead “a new era of predictable demand for African manufacturers, empowering them to plan for the long-term and establish a robust market worth over $50 billion,” said the CDC in a press release on Monday, just after the close of the Summit in Addis Ababa. (...) With regards to the new African CDC medicines procurement mechanism, Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya said: “The decision means the creation of a robust market for manufacturers and ensures the health security of all Africans. This will be the second independence of Africa.”

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No Peace of Mind: Mental Health under Military Occupation and War
Photo: © GHC
27. März 2024 – 16:00 - 17:30 Online panel discussion

No Peace of Mind: Mental Health under Military Occupation and War

Graduate Institute - Global Health Centre "(...) Deteriorating mental health in militarised territories is not exclusive to recent conflicts. The low-intensity but protracted military operations in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir over more than three decades have contributed to the prevalence of depression in the region. Conflict-affected areas are also often characterised by insufficient resources for mental health. Humanitarian agencies struggle to provide even minimal levels of mental healthcare for populations in conflict zones. As violence intensifies and is prolonged, mental health comes to be characterised as a low-level priority or even as a luxury. This event aims to bring together experts to discuss different aspects of mental health crises and care, drawing on recent and ongoing cases."

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L’événement de lancement d'Interface, le Fonds de soutien à la recherche partenariale
Photo: © UNIL
12. März 2024 – 18h à 20h dans le bâtiment Amphimax, métro UNIL-Sorge, salle 351.

L’événement de lancement d'Interface, le Fonds de soutien à la recherche partenariale

Université de Lausanne "Cette soirée sera l’occasion de présenter le dispositif de soutien et d’encouragement des projets de recherche partenariale (recherche participative, recherche-action, recherche collaborative), de découvrir les expériences et expertises développées ces dernières années et de rencontrer nos partenaires autour d’intérêts communs. Un buffet sera servi à l’issue de la cérémonie. Le fonds de soutien à la recherche partenariale vise à soutenir des projets de recherche innovants et à fort impact social, développés entre des collaborateur·ices de l’UNIL ou des étudiant·es et des partenaires externes (communes, associations, ONG, services de l’Etat, etc.). L’entrée et libre, mais l’inscription est obligatoire."

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Opinion: Aid can no longer be dictated by foreign policy or geopolitics
Photo: EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid/flickr.com; CC BY-ND 4.0 Deed
22.02.2024

Opinion: Aid can no longer be dictated by foreign policy or geopolitics

As global development grapples with a movement to “shift the power,” the sector must recognize that aid needs to be separated from geopolitics.

Devex "For decades, critics have been claiming that aid is a key mechanism of foreign policy, highlighting that aid is inherently political. Politics, in turn, is controlled by geopolitical trends which are about amassing power and wealth. This is a fact that the global development sector as a whole has tended to conveniently ignore. The Western aid institutions that have been going through a reckoning and are talking about “shifting the power,” “decolonization,” or “localization,” were never altruistic. They were and remain political institutions based on state ideology of resource extraction and control."

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Statement by Principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee - Civilians in Gaza in extreme peril while the world watches on: Ten requirements to avoid an even worse catastrophe
Photo: Catholic Church England and Wales/© Mazur/cbcew.org.uk/flickr.com; CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Deed
22.02.2024

Statement by Principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee - Civilians in Gaza in extreme peril while the world watches on: Ten requirements to avoid an even worse catastrophe

Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) "NEW YORK/GENEVA/ROME, 21 February 2024 – In the less than five months that followed the brutal 7 October attacks and the ensuing escalation, tens of thousands of Palestinians – mostly women and children – have been killed and injured in the Gaza Strip. More than three quarters of the population have been forced from their homes, many multiple times, and face severe shortages of food, water, sanitation and healthcare – the basic necessities to survive. The health system continues to be systematically degraded, with catastrophic consequences. As of 19 February, only 12 out of 36 hospitals with inpatient capacity are still functioning, and only partially. There have been more than 370 attacks on health care in Gaza since 7 October."

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Developing Countries Mean Business on Equity Provisions in Pandemic Agreement. Will it Count?
Photo: Screenshot © WHO
22.02.2024

Developing Countries Mean Business on Equity Provisions in Pandemic Agreement. Will it Count?

Strong Push for Access and Benefits Sharing Mechanism. By Priti Patnaik & Nishant Sirohi

Geneva Health Files "Scores of developing countries pulled their weight in a bid to push for equity provisions in a new Pandemic Agreement at the opening of the latest meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), set up to establish a new Pandemic Agreement. Despite strong intentions, it looks increasingly difficult that objectives to ensure equity in pandemic preparedness and response, will translate into any serious binding obligations, given limited political will and time. WHO member states are meeting for a two-week marathon meeting where they continue to discuss a proposal for a negotiating text put together by the Bureau of the INB, that to an extent reflects some of the deliberations conducted in smaller groups on a number of different key provisions."

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AI for Healthy Cities Dialogue –  Deciphering Health Inequities
Photo: © Novartis Foundation
20. März 2024 – 16:30–18:30 CET; Novartis Campus, Fabrikstrasse 15.U3, Basel

AI for Healthy Cities Dialogue – Deciphering Health Inequities

Time: Wednesday, 20 March, 2024, 16:30-18:30 CET

Novartis Foundation "Together, we will discuss how cities can harness data and AI to tackle heart health inequities. This dialogue will convene global and city leaders in health equity and access, philanthropy, urban development, technology, data science and analytics to explore why data and multisector partnerships are essential to move the needle on population health and address the burning health issues of our time. Confirmed speakers: Please see attachment. JOIN US to explore together how cities can translate data insights into action and policy to tackle heart health inequities!"

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Renforcer la culture de la surveillance sanitaire
Photo: © SPHC
03. September 2024 – 3 - 4 septembre 2024, Auditorium Joseph Deiss/Pérolles 22, Bd de Pérolles 90, 1700 Fribourg

Renforcer la culture de la surveillance sanitaire

Swiss Public Health Conference 2024

Swiss Public Health "Le cancer, les risques environnementaux, les inégalités de santé et dans l’accès aux soins ou les maladies infectieuses émergentes mettent en évidence la nécessité de renforcer la surveillance sanitaire. La surveillance nécessite 1) des données, 2) la capacité de les analyser et 3) un processus permettant de rendre les informations issues de ces données utiles à la prise de décision. A l'ère de l'infodémie et du big data, l'accès à différents types de données a énormément augmenté, offrant de nouvelles opportunités pour la surveillance. Dans le même temps, en Suisse, on peine à définir ce qui est nécessaire pour avoir un système d'information sanitaire fiable et efficace. Comment évaluer le fardeau du cancer ou le risque environnemental ? Comment surveiller la qualité des soins ? De quels outils de surveillance avons-nous besoin ? Et quelle gouvernance ?

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