Newsletter 08/2024: Get Ready for WHS 2024!
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Dear colleagues and friends,
The World Health Summit 2024 is approaching fast, offering a unique opportunity to gather and tackle the world’s most pressing health challenges.
The resurgence of the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring regions, now declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO, highlighted the urgent need for global unity and a well-prepared multinational agency. This is reflected in this year’s Signature Event at the World Health Summit which features the WHO Investment Round. Contributions from nations and nongovernmental donors will set the scene for the WHO Investment Round at the G20 Summit in Brazil this November.
The discussions in Berlin in October touching many topics and areas will be crucial in shaping the strategies to address emerging health threats and bolster global health system resilience. This World Health Summit will introduce exciting new formats and key events. I encourage you to explore these updates as we work together toward meaningful progress in our shared mission.
Thank you for your steadfast dedication and commitment to improving health for all.
Stay safe, stay healthy – and see you in Berlin!
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Axel R. Pries
President
World Health Summit
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EXCITING NEW EVENTS AT THE WHS 2024
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WHS 2024 will be held from October 13-15 in Berlin. Secure your spot now - register for on-site participation here.
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Signature Event – Presenting the WHO Investment Round
The 2024 World Health Summit's Signature Event will feature the WHO Investment Round, a new initiative to secure resources for WHO's next four years. The event emphasizes WHO's role in shaping global health agendas and building impactful partnerships, featuring prominent speakers, including WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Check Our Program for Details on Keynote Events
On Sunday, the World Health Summit will introduce the new "WHS Opening Night" to mark the beginning of the summit. More details will be shared in our program, where you can also find information about other key events. See for example Investing in Women's Health: Driving Global Development, hosted by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), or Global Health 2050: The Lancet Commission on Investing in Health 3.0.
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New Special Format at the WHS
We're excited to introduce a new session format at WHS: Global Health Labs! These dynamic sessions will feature in-depth debates with stakeholders, emphasizing interactive participation. Don't miss out on these engaging discussions. The Global Health Lab sessions have limited access and require an application. Registered WHS participants can apply from September 23-30, 2024, via a link sent by email.
WHS 2024 Speaker List is Growing
The World Health Summit 2024 will feature speakers representing all major sectors in global health. To explore the full list of speakers and discover more about the high-level experts participating, please visit our program or check our website.
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SPOTLIGHT GLOBAL HEALTH - A BRIEF ANALYSIS
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Opinion piece by WHS Council Co-Chair Ilona Kickbusch
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Paying a high price for pandemics of a different kind
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One worrisome disease outbreak seems to follow on the other: ongoing COVID infections, H5N1, dengue and now mpox. And in the Global North the fear of importing diseases and viruses is emerging again. But, very little concern is raised about the export of disease from the Global North to the Global South, where the burden of disease related to obesity, diabetes, substance use disorders is already high and growing.
The proportion of premature deaths in the African Region – between 30 and 70 years – stands at 63.6 percent, which is higher than the global average of 41.8 (2019). The easy way out is to blame “lifestyles” – the necessary one is to look at the impact of commercial determinants of health, especially in relation to international investments in commodities, such as food. In the next four years the soft drinks market in Africa is projected to grow by nearly 17% - this means a market volume of 160 Bill USD. The increase in obesity is seen by WHO as a “ticking time bomb”.
As the African economies grow international commercial actors and interests will aim to increase their influence – on people (how they eat, what they drink ….) and on politicians (how they regulate, who they tax). A strong Global South voice in the upcoming UN/HLM on NCDs will be critical. Lacking global agreements – for example on sugar taxes - the burden of regulation lies with each of the African countries – as does the heavy burden of preventable disease.
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ZEIT GERMANY
The new yearly edition was just published for international students and early career researchers to get fresh insights in the German campus life and research landscape.
In the new issue 2024/2025 you read about: Internationals who discover the appeal and challenges of dual study programs; captivating stories of students from abroad letting us know about their academic passions and what Germany means to them; the newest job options even before courses are starting; the cut-rate costs of living and eating in Germany and how studying and family life could be handled well together; but also about fun facts e.g. the oddest German idioms which reveal about the country's culture.
ZEIT GERMANY, published by DIE ZEIT, Germany's leading weekly newspaper, helps to navigate it all and will be a guide through studying, researching, working and living in the country of Goethe and Humboldt. Enjoy reading!
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For academia jobs in Germany, Austria and Switzerland feel free also to browse through academics.com – the academia job-market from ZEIT Verlag.
ZEIT Verlag has been a long-standing media partner of the World Health Summit.
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Indigenous Peoples make up less than 6% of the global population but over 15% of those in extreme poverty, reflecting deep disparities. They speak most of the world’s 7,000 languages and preserve 5,000 distinct cultures. On August 9, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples highlights the importance of protecting their rights, autonomy, and traditional lands, essential for their health, survival and cultural preservation.
Source: United Nations
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NEWS FROM CHARITÉ CENTER FOR GLOBAL HEALTH
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World Health Summit 2024
Berlin, Germany & Digital
October 13-15
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