3 minute read
OPPORTUNITIES EMERGING FROM COVID-19
The world faces serious challenges at the moment. Climate change, poverty, pollution, healthcare inequalities, employment, biodiversity loss, access to quality education and COVID-19 - these are all but a few of the global challenges that we face today.
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The past year has been difficult for many people around the world. While we’re facing uncertainty, one thing is certain: change is coming. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that we need to embrace new ways of working.
Despite the challenges we face, we see hope and opportunities emerge. Action is taking place across the world as we work together to create a better and more sustainable future for everyone.
We’ve welcomed Klagenfurt to our SDG Cities programme and we recently had the opportunity to discuss how we can move forward during COVID-19 at the Global Solutions Summit (G20) LIVE from Berlin. The Summit supports the T20 and G20 under the Italian G20 Presidency, bringing together top researchers, policymakers, business leaders and civil society representatives in a renowned global problem solving process. The event focused heavily on a Great Realignment in the post-COVID world, in the spirit of recoupling economic progress with social prosperity and environmental sustainability. We discussed and highlighted the opportunities ahead of us in our panel session, “Moving forward during COVID19 - Implementing Good Health and Wellbeing”, which involved James Sanderson, CEO, National Academy Social Prescribing, Director of Personalised Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement; Roland Schatz, CEO and Founder, UNGSII Foundation; and Päivi Sillanaukee, Ambassador for Health and Wellbeing, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finland. From launching the Global Social Prescribing Alliance “Playbook” to establishing a “Just Transition Fund”, our session gave an insight into how we can improve people’s health and wellbeing, support our health services, create new and meaningful jobs while implementing the global goals by 2030.
We are looking forward to taking part in this month’s World Health Summit in Kampala, Uganda, where Global Health Leaders will come together to discuss how we manage the current challenges while looking to the future and determine what will be required to implement SDG3 Good Health & Wellbeing.
As we begin the build-up to COP26 later this year, we’ll be developing our activities through our WHISGreen platform with the aim to support the transition to clean energy, waste and water while supporting the environment.
We now also have a number of WHIS Expert Groups established and we’re grateful for their commitment to improving patient care around the world.
Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment - Chaired by Deirdre Carbery with members Tyson Nicholas, Steffi Singh, Amany Yehia, Keira Lonergan
MSK - Chaired by Ben Wilkins with members Jack Chew, Meg Lowry, Martin Ong’wen, Joost van Wijchen, Ruth Sephton, Darshan Allirajan.
We are launching Shared Decisions and Personalised Care jointly Chaired by Dr Minas Chrysopoulo and Patient Leader Terri Coutee with new groups in Health Literacy, Sound Medicine, Arts and Health, and Space Medicine launching soon.
This edition covers inspiring topics on health education, gender equality, innovation, global wellness and creative initiatives that are focused towards implementing the UN’s sustainable development goals. We’re also excited to feature our first article on Space Medicine by Dr. Shawna Pandya which addresses healthcare requirements and possibilities on Earth and in outer space. We hope you enjoy reading our magazine!
We are grateful to all of our contributors for collaborating with us to share this inspiring content, and a special thanks to Prof Dennis Snower and his team for the opportunity and their support at the Global Solutions Summit.
