Our SCIDaR team recently made a significant impact at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva by actively participating in various events and highlighting our innovative projects, including the Investing in Innovation (i3) program and the ForM(om) project, which aims to improve the quality of maternal care, reduce maternal mortality and ultimately strengthen systems for safer childbirth.
Dr. Uchenna Igbokwe, our Executive Director, attended the Concept Foundation’s photo exhibition titled “POSTPARTUM HEMORRHAGE: A GLOBAL TRAGEDY AFFECTING GENERATIONS.” This exhibition deeply resonated with our maternal health-focused projects like the Smiles for Mothers (SfM) program, showcasing the critical issue of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal mortality. The powerful photography highlighted the profound human cost behind the statistics, serving as a poignant reminder of our commitment to this cause.
Anjolaoluwa Ayodele, a Senior Manager, led a visit to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, alongside partners from Salient Advisory. They presented the impactful work of the i3 program, emphasizing the success story of Figorr, a Nigerian startup. Figorr’s low-cost device has revolutionized health product tracking, currently monitoring nearly 200 million products. Additionally, at the Global Health Campus, Oghenetega Iortim (Figorr CEO) and David Chen (Kapsule CEO), two inspiring i3 innovators presented their groundbreaking solutions for health product tracking and management. Their passion and dedication solidified the importance of SCIDaR’s mission.
In a parallel event, Efosa Omoregie, Senior Manager overseeing the ForMom project at SCIDaR, participated in “Maternity Matters: Unlocking Private Sector Fiscal Capacity for Health System Response. This event, hosted by MSD for Mothers alongside the Country Connector on the Private Sector in Geneva, brought together key stakeholders. Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and Omobosola Asuni, Head of Public Health at Helium Health, explored successful public-private partnerships and challenges in improving maternal care. SCIDaR’s participation highlighted our commitment to collaboration for a stronger global health system.
SCIDaR’s participation was not just about showcasing projects. It was about connecting with like-minded individuals passionate about global health. Our active engagement reflects our mission to foster collaboration and leverage private sector expertise to strengthen public health systems worldwide. The WHA served as a springboard for inspiration and learning and solidified our resolve to propel our mission forward.
