Harnessing the Power of Communities to Achieve Equity and Primary Health Care for All

Monday, May 6, 2019
9:30AM-11:30AM EDT

The Astana Declaration revives attention and commitment to primary health care (PHC) and yet, 40 years post-Alma Ata, community health platforms still are not fully integrated into formal health systems nor consistently prioritized for investment as part of national health strategies. Community approaches, including engagement of civil society and communities themselves, are essential to advancing equity, including gender equity, and achieving PHC for all.

Please join USAID’s flagship Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) in person or online for a morning event at the CORE Group Global Health Practitioner Conference on Monday, May 6 from 9:30AM-11:30AM to discuss the importance of strengthening and scaling community health interventions to save the lives of mothers and children. MCSP and partners will discuss and highlight global and country progress as well as the unfinished agenda for institutionalizing community health within national health systems.

This event will be webcasted for remote viewing by clicking on the following link: https://mcspcommunity.hosted.events

The official program will commence at 9:30AM with registration and breakfast starting at 9:00AM. Lunch will be offered following the event.

Opening Remarks

• Kate Crawford, Deputy Director, Office of Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition, Bureau for Global Health, USAID
• Melanie Morrow, Community Health and Civil Society Engagement Team Lead, MCSP

Panel 1: Country Leadership Progress and Lessons

• Moderator: Maria Francisco, Health Systems Strengthening and Equity Team Lead, MCSP
• Dr. Abeba Bekele, Chief of Party, MCSP Ethiopia
• Dr. Stelio Dimande, Community Health Director, MCSP Mozambique
• Dr. S. K. Sikdar, Deputy Commissioner of Family Planning, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India

Question and Answer

Panel 2: Catalyzing Investments

• Moderator: Lisa Hilmi, Executive Director, CORE Group
• Anne Detjen, Health Specialist, iCCM/IMCI, Childhood TB and Community Health Unit, UNICEF
• Lizah Masis, Country Investment and Knowledge Director, Financing Alliance for Health
• Lory Meoli, Community Health Technical Advisor, Office of Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition, Bureau for Global Health, USAID
• Dr. S. K. Sikdar, Deputy Commissioner of Family Planning, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India

Question and Answer

Closing Remarks

• Dr. Koki Agarwal, Director, MCSP