WHO

COVID-19 and the Increasing Risks of Substandard and Falsified Pharmaceutical Products in Africa

Dear CoNGO members,

I am delighted to get in touch with you for the first time since the Brazzaville Foundation’s membership in November 2020 to the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO).

On the occasion of the upcoming World Health Assembly and Africa Day, the Brazzaville Foundation is pleased to invite you to an online high-level roundtable on Tuesday 25th May to discuss “Covid-19 and the Increasing Risks of Substandard and Falsified Pharmaceutical Products in Africa: A public health and security issue”. High-level speakers are expected such as Prof. Moustafa Mijiyawa, Minister of Health of the Republic of Togo; Michel Sidibé, African Union Special Envoy for the African Medicines Agency (AMA) and Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

If you are interested in taking part in global health and security discussions, please register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Z0sYZHfPQnWICzmnQY2r0g. Simultaneous translation will be available in French/English.

We are eager to share this event with you and we look forward to collaborating together in the future.

Best regards,

Richard Amalvy, Chief Executive, The Brazzaville Foundation

À l’occasion de la 74e Assemblée mondiale de la Santé et de la Journée de l’Afrique, la Fondation Brazzaville réunira des intervenants de haut niveau pour discuter des enjeux de santé publique et de sécurité liés aux risques croissants des médicaments falsifiés et de qualité inférieure dans le contexte de la pandémie de la COVID-19. Traduction simultanée en français/anglais.

Background notes:

Poor-quality medicines can be both falsified and substandard:

  • Falsified medicines are deliberately fake medical products. Criminals manufacture, traffic and sell fake products to unsuspecting customers.
  • Substandard medicines can be the result of poor manufacturing and quality-control practices in the manufacture or distribution of the product.

Poor-quality medicines lead to death and illness:

  • Both fake and substandard medicines pose a threat to public health because they can lead to death, additional illness in individuals, the spread of disease within a community and antibiotic resistance.
  • The link between the traffic in falsified medicines and organised crime has been well established by intelligence services and law enforcement agencies. They are smuggled onto markets using the same routes and techniques as drug, weapon, or human trafficking.
  • Transnational organised crime also funds terrorism, destabilising countries and weakening state structures.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Drugs-NY, please visit nyngoc.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security, please visit ngocdps.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org

COVID-19 and the Increasing Risks of Substandard and Falsified Pharmaceutical Products in Africa

Dear CoNGO members,

I am delighted to get in touch with you for the first time since the Brazzaville Foundation’s membership in November 2020 to the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO).

On the occasion of the upcoming World Health Assembly and Africa Day, the Brazzaville Foundation is pleased to invite you to an online high-level roundtable on Tuesday 25th May to discuss “Covid-19 and the Increasing Risks of Substandard and Falsified Pharmaceutical Products in Africa: A public health and security issue”. High-level speakers are expected such as Prof. Moustafa Mijiyawa, Minister of Health of the Republic of Togo; Michel Sidibé, African Union Special Envoy for the African Medicines Agency (AMA) and Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

If you are interested in taking part in global health and security discussions, please register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Z0sYZHfPQnWICzmnQY2r0g. Simultaneous translation will be available in French/English.

We are eager to share this event with you and we look forward to collaborating together in the future.

Best regards,

Richard Amalvy, Chief Executive, The Brazzaville Foundation

À l’occasion de la 74e Assemblée mondiale de la Santé et de la Journée de l’Afrique, la Fondation Brazzaville réunira des intervenants de haut niveau pour discuter des enjeux de santé publique et de sécurité liés aux risques croissants des médicaments falsifiés et de qualité inférieure dans le contexte de la pandémie de la COVID-19. Traduction simultanée en français/anglais.

Background notes:

Poor-quality medicines can be both falsified and substandard:

  • Falsified medicines are deliberately fake medical products. Criminals manufacture, traffic and sell fake products to unsuspecting customers.
  • Substandard medicines can be the result of poor manufacturing and quality-control practices in the manufacture or distribution of the product.

Poor-quality medicines lead to death and illness:

  • Both fake and substandard medicines pose a threat to public health because they can lead to death, additional illness in individuals, the spread of disease within a community and antibiotic resistance.
  • The link between the traffic in falsified medicines and organised crime has been well established by intelligence services and law enforcement agencies. They are smuggled onto markets using the same routes and techniques as drug, weapon, or human trafficking.
  • Transnational organised crime also funds terrorism, destabilising countries and weakening state structures.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Drugs-NY, please visit nyngoc.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security, please visit ngocdps.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org

Women’s & Children’s Health and Well-being: Implementing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Amelioration of Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs) in the context of COVID-19

The Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations; Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations; WHO Office at the United Nations, New York; International Council of Women (ICW Nations (CCCUN); Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association International are pleased to present a CSW65 parallel event:

Women’s & Children’s Health and Well-being: Implementing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Amelioration of Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs) in the context of COVID-19

Access to UHC includes physical and mental health and neurological conditions, the inclusion of mental health in primary care services, as well as the need for disaggregated data to develop comprehensive health policies and are essential to address mushrooming non disease worldwide (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and mental health conditions) especially for women and children. These must be addressed in the context of COVID the SDGs. Examples of successful and replicable programs and research from Australia, Europe, Asia, Caribbean, and U.S. will be discussed.

Moderator: Dr. Elizabeth Carll, UN New York Main Representative, International Council of Women; Chair, Global Mental Health and NCDs Work Group & Former Chair, UN NGO CMH; President, CCCUN

Speakers:

  • H.E. Mr. Courtenay Rattray – Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations
  • H.E. Mr. Supark Prongthura – Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United Nations
  • Dr. Nata Menabde – Executive Director, World Health Organization Office at the UN (WHO/UN), New York; Will discuss WHO and UHC next steps
  • Dr. Gita Mishra – Professor and Deputy Head, School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Australia; Will discuss large multi-national, multi-year women’s health study funded by government
  • Dr. Dana Crawford – Scholar-in-Residence, The Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University; Will discuss child behavioral health
  • Dr. Lyudmyla Porokhnyak, Chair, National Council of Women of Ukraine, Vice President, European Center, International Council of Women; Will discuss rural health outreach program

Audience discussion with Q & A to follow.

If you are interested in the event, please send an email to event4040@gmail.com by 14 March. You will receive a Zoom link a day or two before the event.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Mental Health, please visit ngomentalhealth.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch

Women’s & Children’s Health and Well-being: Implementing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Amelioration of Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs) in the context of COVID-19

The Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations; Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations; WHO Office at the United Nations, New York; International Council of Women (ICW Nations (CCCUN); Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association International are pleased to present a CSW65 parallel event:

Women’s & Children’s Health and Well-being: Implementing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Amelioration of Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs) in the context of COVID-19

Access to UHC includes physical and mental health and neurological conditions, the inclusion of mental health in primary care services, as well as the need for disaggregated data to develop comprehensive health policies and are essential to address mushrooming non disease worldwide (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and mental health conditions) especially for women and children. These must be addressed in the context of COVID the SDGs. Examples of successful and replicable programs and research from Australia, Europe, Asia, Caribbean, and U.S. will be discussed.

Moderator: Dr. Elizabeth Carll, UN New York Main Representative, International Council of Women; Chair, Global Mental Health and NCDs Work Group & Former Chair, UN NGO CMH; President, CCCUN

Speakers:

  • H.E. Mr. Courtenay Rattray – Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations
  • H.E. Mr. Supark Prongthura – Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United Nations
  • Dr. Nata Menabde – Executive Director, World Health Organization Office at the UN (WHO/UN), New York; Will discuss WHO and UHC next steps
  • Dr. Gita Mishra – Professor and Deputy Head, School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Australia; Will discuss large multi-national, multi-year women’s health study funded by government
  • Dr. Dana Crawford – Scholar-in-Residence, The Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University; Will discuss child behavioral health
  • Dr. Lyudmyla Porokhnyak, Chair, National Council of Women of Ukraine, Vice President, European Center, International Council of Women; Will discuss rural health outreach program

Audience discussion with Q & A to follow.

If you are interested in the event, please send an email to event4040@gmail.com by 14 March. You will receive a Zoom link a day or two before the event.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Mental Health, please visit ngomentalhealth.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch

Interactive Dialogue with WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Greetings,
It is a pleasure to invite you to participate in an interactive civil society dialogue with WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on 4 November 2020 with the theme Strengthening connections across sectors: Building partnerships for healthy ageing in and beyond the COVID-19 era.
Older people and those with underlying health conditions are facing the most significant risks from COVID-19, yet neither are they invisible or powerless. In this space of both tragedy and opportunity CSOs working with these groups are the glue of solidarity globally, nationally, locally and at the community level. WHO leadership has a pivotal role to play in reinforcing the need for strategic action across WHO Departments and offices, with a common goal of improving the health (in the broadest sense) and well being of older people, and protecting their rights, during and living with the impact of the pandemic.

REGISTER HERE.

MODERATOR
Jane Barratt, International Federation on Ageing
SPEAKERS
Voice of older people in COVID-19:  Maciej Kucharczyk, AGE Platform Europe
Enabling age-friendly environments, including measuring their impact:  Grace Chan, Hong Kong Council of Social Services
Vaccination to older adults and those with underlying conditions:  Michael Moore, World Federation Public Health Associations
Regulated home-based and residential / institutional long-term care and support:  Isabella Aboderin, International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG),
African Region
Including older people in all NCDs (including mental health) data and responses:  Justin Derbyshire, HelpAge International
Humanizing loss, grief, bereavement, and the last days of life: Alexandre Kalache, International Longevity Centre, Brazil
Organized by the International Federation on Ageing, HelpAge International, ILC Brazil and the NGO Committee on Ageing, Geneva and supported by many organizations, this interactive session forms part of the series of Civil Society-WHO Director General dialogues being organized on different topics of interest for the civil society, related to the COVID-19 response.
Join this innovative program of lightning talks on technical and systemic issues, good practice and concrete action which we believe will support a stronger focus on healthy ageing at global, regional, national and community levels.
Date and Time:
Wednesday 4 November 2020
8:00–9:30am (EST – New York) | 2:00-3:30pm (CET – Geneva)

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Geneva, please visit ageingcommitteegeneva.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-New York, please visit ngocoa-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Vienna, please visit ngoageingvie.org.

Interactive Dialogue with WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Greetings,
It is a pleasure to invite you to participate in an interactive civil society dialogue with WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on 4 November 2020 with the theme Strengthening connections across sectors: Building partnerships for healthy ageing in and beyond the COVID-19 era.
Older people and those with underlying health conditions are facing the most significant risks from COVID-19, yet neither are they invisible or powerless. In this space of both tragedy and opportunity CSOs working with these groups are the glue of solidarity globally, nationally, locally and at the community level. WHO leadership has a pivotal role to play in reinforcing the need for strategic action across WHO Departments and offices, with a common goal of improving the health (in the broadest sense) and well being of older people, and protecting their rights, during and living with the impact of the pandemic.

REGISTER HERE.

MODERATOR
Jane Barratt, International Federation on Ageing
SPEAKERS
Voice of older people in COVID-19:  Maciej Kucharczyk, AGE Platform Europe
Enabling age-friendly environments, including measuring their impact:  Grace Chan, Hong Kong Council of Social Services
Vaccination to older adults and those with underlying conditions:  Michael Moore, World Federation Public Health Associations
Regulated home-based and residential / institutional long-term care and support:  Isabella Aboderin, International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG),
African Region
Including older people in all NCDs (including mental health) data and responses:  Justin Derbyshire, HelpAge International
Humanizing loss, grief, bereavement, and the last days of life: Alexandre Kalache, International Longevity Centre, Brazil
Organized by the International Federation on Ageing, HelpAge International, ILC Brazil and the NGO Committee on Ageing, Geneva and supported by many organizations, this interactive session forms part of the series of Civil Society-WHO Director General dialogues being organized on different topics of interest for the civil society, related to the COVID-19 response.
Join this innovative program of lightning talks on technical and systemic issues, good practice and concrete action which we believe will support a stronger focus on healthy ageing at global, regional, national and community levels.
Date and Time:
Wednesday 4 November 2020
8:00–9:30am (EST – New York) | 2:00-3:30pm (CET – Geneva)

___________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Geneva, please visit ageingcommitteegeneva.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-New York, please visit ngocoa-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Vienna, please visit ngoageingvie.org.

Monthly Meeting: NGO Committee on the Status of Women – NY

Monthly Meeting: NGO Committee on the Status of Women – NY

June’s Monthly Meeting will focus on the intersection between health and finance in the gender impacts of COVID-19. The topic will be approached through a multilateral lens, with speakers from various sectors including civil society, government, and United Nations agencies.

Read the detailed concept note and program with the speakers bios.

TO PARTICIPATE, register here:
PROGRAM:
NGO CSW/NY Business Meeting
Updates from Houry Geudelekian, Chair of NGO CSW/NY and UN Representative, Unchained At Last
NGO CSWs in the Regions:
Dr. Nata Menabde, Executive Director of the World Health Organization Office at the United Nations
Nafissatou J. Diop, Ph.D., Chief, Gender and Human Rights Branch, UNFPA
Crystal Simeoni, Afrifem Economics Collective
Crystal J. Rogers, Community Organizer, New York State Nurses Association
Moderated by Rosa Lizarde, NGO CSW/NY Member-at-Large and Global Director, Feminist Task Force
___________________________________
CoNGO NOTES: To learn more about the NGO Committee on Status of Women-New York, visit its website. To learn more about CoNGO’s committees on the status of women, and other substantive and regional committees, in Geneva and Vienna, and other regions, visit us here.

Monthly Meeting: NGO Committee on the Status of Women – NY

Monthly Meeting: NGO Committee on the Status of Women – NY

June’s Monthly Meeting will focus on the intersection between health and finance in the gender impacts of COVID-19. The topic will be approached through a multilateral lens, with speakers from various sectors including civil society, government, and United Nations agencies.

Read the detailed concept note and program with the speakers bios.

TO PARTICIPATE, register here:
PROGRAM:
NGO CSW/NY Business Meeting
Updates from Houry Geudelekian, Chair of NGO CSW/NY and UN Representative, Unchained At Last
NGO CSWs in the Regions:
Dr. Nata Menabde, Executive Director of the World Health Organization Office at the United Nations
Nafissatou J. Diop, Ph.D., Chief, Gender and Human Rights Branch, UNFPA
Crystal Simeoni, Afrifem Economics Collective
Crystal J. Rogers, Community Organizer, New York State Nurses Association
Moderated by Rosa Lizarde, NGO CSW/NY Member-at-Large and Global Director, Feminist Task Force
___________________________________
CoNGO NOTES: To learn more about the NGO Committee on Status of Women-New York, visit its website. To learn more about CoNGO’s committees on the status of women, and other substantive and regional committees, in Geneva and Vienna, and other regions, visit us here.
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