Event on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly, Geneva
Wednesday 20 May 2026, 09.30-11:00
This session took stock of the progress so far to reduce maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths, what is stalling, and why. It presented high-level messages from the forthcoming 2026 EWENE-Child Survival Action Progress Report. Representatives from Kenya, Nepal, Lebanon and Egypt also shared their best practices to accelerate progress for maternal and newborn health and the reduction of stillbirth.
Hosted by Devex, in partnership with MSD for Mothers, EWENE, Child Survival Action, UNICEF and UNFPA.
Agenda:
Welcome and framing
Alex Cabaret, Vice President of Partnerships, Devex
Opening remarks
Dr. Pascale Allotey, WHO
Opening discussion: Key headlines from the EWENE-CSA progress tracking
Dr. Gagan Gupta, Senior Adviser for Maternal and Newborn Health, UNICEF
Keynote address
Hon. Aden Bare Duale, EGH Cabinet Secretary, Minister of Health, Republic of Kenya
Progressive panel discussion: From commitments to country action
Moderated by Julia Bunting, UNFPA and Helga Fogstad, UNICEF
- Ms. Yeshoda Aryal, Joint Secretary and Chief, Health Coordination Division, Ministry of Health and Food Safety, Nepal
- Dr. Abla Al-Alfy, Deputy Minister of Health and Population for Population and Family Development, Egypt Chair, National Population Council, Egypt
- Dr. Nadeen Hilal, Advisor to the Minister of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Lebanon
Words of thanks and wrap-up
- Alex Cabaret, Devex
- Jacquelyn Caglia, Head of MSD for Mothers
