Webinar: The impact of COVID-19 on health systems in the Commonwealth
Global health experts and Commonwealth Parliamentarians came together for a webinar this week to discuss the need to protect health systems in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The webinar, co-hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and Malaria No More UK, focussed on the need to initiate a recovery from the shockwaves that have rippled through global health systems since the onset of the pandemic. COVID-19 has caused mass disruption across health systems; intensive care wards have been overwhelmed, medical supply chains have been interrupted and health-seeking behaviours have changed.
Panellists considered strategies to create better prepared, more resilient health programming in the future, agreeing that the co-operation between medical leaders and Parliamentarians that has been such a vital part of the response to COVID-19 provides a strong basis for further reform and innovation.
The webinar was moderated by Stephen Twigg, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The panel featured:
- Prof. Dr. Md Habibe Millat, MP (Bangladesh)
- Idris Mwendwa, Programs Manager, HIV & AIDS People’s Alliance of Kenya
- Lilies Njanga, Africa Director, Malaria No More UK
- Layne Robinson, Head of Social Policy Development, Commonwealth Secretariat
- Clare Battle, Head of Policy, Malaria No More UK
- Dr. Patrick T Kagurusi, Country Manager, Amref Health Africa
- Lenio Capaskis, Action for Global Health Steering Committee Member and Head of Health Policy, Advocacy and Research at Save the Children
In Issue 1, 2021 of The Parliamentarian, Hon. Pauline Latham, OBE, MP (UK) and Dr. Hon. Otiende Omollo, SC, MP (Kenya), wrote about the need for Parliamentarians to take the lead in fulfilling the pledge made by Commonwealth Heads of Government in 2018 to halve malaria by 2023. The article is available to read online, or you can download any issue of The Parliamentarian from our online archives.
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The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.
For media enquiries, please contact communications@cpahq.org.
