Advocating for Universal Health Coverage: A New Toolkit for Civil Society

Join the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC2030 (CSEM), for the global launch event for the Health for All Advocacy Toolkit on September 28th, 8 AM EST. 

The COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts around the world have made it abundantly clear that achieving health for all should be a priority for all stakeholders. Increasing access to comprehensive and quality health services through universal health coverage (UHC) is a key component of this goal, complementing important efforts to improve the social, economic, environmental, and political determinants of health.

The CSEM developed the Health for All Advocacy Toolkit to strengthen capacity, inspire action and mobilize civil society in support of the global movement for universal health coverage (UHC). The Toolkit provides national-level civil society organizations and health networks with the necessary resources to kick-start advocacy initiatives on UHC. It offers advocates a central reference point—a ‘one-stop shop’ for key information and tools to advocate for UHC, hold policy-makers accountable for their commitments, and build a broad social movement within civil society to support health for all.

Co-organized with UHC2030 as well as APCASO, Aidsfonds, Georgia Red Cross, Global Health Council, GNP+, IFRC, Living Goods, Love Alliance, Management Sciences for Health, NCD Alliance, UNAIDS, WACI Health, and White Ribbon Alliance Kenya, this event will officially launch the toolkit in English, French and Spanish. Discussions will include civil society advocacy for UHC and its impact, the background of the Health for All Advocacy Toolkit, how it can be used, and the need it addresses. Translation will be available in French, Spanish, International Sign Language

Speakers:

• Collins Masinde, Chairperson, Youth for Sustainable Development – Bungoma, Kenya
• Eliana Monteforte, Director of Special Projects, Global Health Council
• Justin Koonin, Co-Chair, UHC2030 Steering Committee
• Natia Loladze, President, Georgia Red Cross Society
• RD Marte, Executive Director, APCASO
• Samuel Matsikure, Program Manager, GALZ, Zimbabwe

MSH and WACI Health—an African regional advocacy organization—co-hosts the UHC2030 Civil Society Engagement Mechanism (CSEM), the civil society constituent of the UHC2030 International Health Partnership (UHC2030). The objectives of CSEM are to raise civil society voices to ensure that policies and programs for universal health coverage (UHC) are inclusive and equitable, with systematic attention to the most marginalized and vulnerable populations so that no one is left behind. In the coming year, CSEM will give special focus to civil society’s critical role in shaping and monitoring the COVID-19 response.