Today, in honor of World Health Day, we reaffirm our commitment to improving healthcare both here in the United States and around the world. Consistent with this year’s theme, Our Planet, Our Health, AMWA has been working with the Medical Society Consortium on Climate Change and Health to “advocate for equitable climate solutions that protect and promote the health of all people.” We helped sponsor the Consortium’s annual meeting this year, Accelerating Climate Solutions: From Urgency to Impact for Health and Equity.
As an accredited NGO affiliated with the United Nations Department of Global Communication, we are also partnering with other NGOs locally and globally to promote partnerships that improve the health and well-being of our respective communities. Our global health lead, Dr. Padmini Murthy served as a non-governmental advisor for the United States Delegation to the sixty-sixth session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women CSW 66. During the CSW, AMWA also hosted the parallel event panel, Medical Women Leaders Promote Gender Equity & Sustainable Development Goals. We are actively working to promote Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (health and wellbeing) and SDG 13 (combatting the impact of climate change) through SDG 17 (global partnerships).
Through the American Women’s Hospitals Service, AMWA has helped provide global aid to countries like India and Afghanistan as well as communities in the U.S., like the Navajo Nation. We also support students through travel grants and the Anne C. Carter Global Health Fellowship to learn more about global issues and their impact on health. Within the Sustainable Menstruation Coalition, we are working to fight period poverty through environmentally friendly products. We have partnered with Days for Girls to provide reusable menstrual pad packs to women and girls in Suriname.
This coming year, we will continue to expand these efforts to help address global health needs both here in the U.S. and around the world.