Pathfinder International

An important #WDP2024 reminder in this joint statement that "Investing in reproductive rights and agency has been proven to provide strong returns to everything from social wellbeing to the economy." We couldn't agree more.

In fragile settings, contraception and other essential health commodities used to treat childhood illness and ensure safe pregnancies and deliveries are often in short supply—putting the health of mothers and children at risk. Supply chains are one of the first systems to break down in times of crisis. A recent report from MOMENTUM Integrated Health Resilience reviews evidence on stock-outs in fragile settings from Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Sudan, and Tanzania. Recognizing the need for locally tailored solutions in each country, the report calls for countries with fragile settings to have harmonized emergency guidelines and procedures that can provide health workers detailed guidance when shortages are anticipated. In addition, health workers need to be fully trained in supply chain best practices and supported with adequate funding. Pathfinder is a proud MOMENTUM partner, and we are sharing our report here: https://lnkd.in/eAT82aNk Pictured: Health consultations with mothers and children by a mobile clinic team in Zinder, Niger, a region plagued by prolonged droughts and periods of torrential rain.

As part of Mediaplanet USA's Living With HIV & AIDS campaign in USA TODAY and online at Future of Personal Health, our Senior Technical Advisor for HIV/AIDS Joram Sunguti Luke describes the disproportionate impact of HIV on women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa. According to UNAIDS, of the 1.9 million women and girls living with HIV globally in 2022, 82% of those cases were in sub-Saharan Africa. Joram writes, "Addressing the HIV burden among girls and young women requires more than just resources; it requires political will and commitment. The time to act is now. We cannot afford to ignore the high HIV burden among girls and young women any longer. By prioritizing their needs and rights in our HIV response, we can chart the path toward an AIDS-free generation." Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/eUmc8-Wj

Launching today! We partnered with Mediaplanet to bring together the Global Resilience campaign –looking at climate and the future of health for women and girls, AMR, vaccination, infectious diseases and more. Visit https://lnkd.in/e25_Tg_6 to read more or find a copy inside the New Scientist. As our Interim CEO Tabinda Sarosh writes, "The climate crisis is threatening food security, driving the spread of infectious diseases, and stripping women of their rights and livelihoods. The climate-health connection requires action now." #globalresilience2024

The latest edition of our Country-led In Action Newsletter is here! In this issue, we bring a reminder to never underestimate the value of cross-country learning and collaboration. Our Nigeria Senior Country Director Amina Aminu Dorayi shares how insights gained from our Egypt team's innovative model for local leadership and climate solutions are inspiring new approaches to climate change and women's leadership in Nigeria. She discusses ineffective and outdated international development models, which were once predicated on technical assistance from donor countries in the West to recipient countries in the Global South. Amina shares how we're upending that model and turning to local talent, fostering cross-country collaboration for a stronger impact. Each month in the newsletter, we examine the triumphs and challenges for Pathfinder and our sector as we continue along this country-led journey. Whether you're a seasoned development practitioner, an aspiring changemaker, or simply passionate about empowering local communities, join us and help redefine development and global health. Subscribe today! #globaldevelopment #localization #localisation #LocallyLedPathfinder

Thanks to USAID for highlighting our joint efforts to boost #HealthEquity in Burkina Faso! Through the PRÉPAration pour la RÉsilience au BURKINA (PREPARE-BURKINA) project, USAID and Pathfinder improve health equity by leveraging locally-led solutions for addressing community health issues. PREPARE-BURKINA works alongside marginalized and vulnerable communities to build resilience to climate-induced shocks and natural disasters while strenghtening health systems and expanding access to care. In Soaga, a rural village in the Centre-Nord region of Burkina Faso, heavy flooding during the rainy season causes the journey to the health center in the neighboring village to become treacherous. After a woman and her unborn child died from complications due to inability to reach the clinic in time, Soaga community members pooled funds to build a health facility in their village. The facilty has been in operation since 2019, and they have worked tireessly toward meeting the community's health needs ever since. In 2022, Soaga’s district health manager reached out to PREPARE-BURKINA for help with improving health outcomes in the village. See how USAID and Pathfinder worked with all of Soaga's community to identify the most pressing needs and barriers, local solutions for addressing them, and steps for creating an action plan: https://bit.ly/4eDnvcI Ginette Hounkanrin, Emmanuel Yemdaogo KABORE

We are thrilled to have participated at the just concluded Africa Health ExCon that took place in Cairo, Egypt. Our Nigeria Senior Country Director Amina Dorayi was part of Africa Business Coalition for Health delegation and she provided valuable contribution to the session co hosted by Africa Business Coalition for Health. The Africa Health Excon Conference is a global event that brings together healthcare leaders and innovators from around the world and provides a platform for healthcare professionals, industry leaders, and international companies to explore investment opportunities and accelerate growth across the continent.

This #WorldRefugeeDay, we call on governments and their partners to go beyond emergency response. #ReproductiveHealth can't pause for crisis—pregnancies, births, and menstruation persist even when women and girls must contend with displacement. Often, threats to sexual and reproductive health, such as gender-based violence, are exacerbated in refugee settings. We must prioritize improving the resilience of health and social systems to meet the combined needs of refugees and host communities. At Pathfinder, our programs focus on refugees most vulnerable to neglect: women and children. Without proper documentation, they are difficult to meet with legal services and at increased risk of exploitation. Many never report cases of assault or exploitation for fear of detention or deportation. That's why we collaborate with local, government, and humanitarian partners to design programs that respond to the unique needs of women and children and advocate for greater investment in health and social systems. We train health care workers to meet the needs of refugee communities, and we work across sectors to design multisectoral refugee programs. These programs include connections to health care, gender-based violence services, psychosocial support, and economic empowerment opportunities. In Pakistan, our team provides support to Afghan refugees, while our team in Egypt has supported Syrian and Sudanese refugees. In both countries, we work with humanitarian organizations on emergency services while connecting refugee families to host country systems for long-term support. Read more about our refugee programs in Pathways June 2024: https://bit.ly/4c8XWyK

In collaboration with GeoST4R partners in Nigeria, we are revolutionizing microplanning and decision-making in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition (RMNCHN) programs through the Geospatial Microplanning Toolkit (GMT). Our team recently engaged with Nigeria Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Board, Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics, and development partners to leverage geospatial data tools and technologies. Together, we're strengthening health outcomes, optimizing resource allocation, and increasing access to healthcare services. The GMT is a game-changer for health intervention planning, and we're excited to be part of this pilot alongside our partners! #PathfinderNigeria #RMNCHNv Amina Aminu Dorayi, BAYO EWUOLA, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hafiz Saidu Yaro

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), a landmark event that positioned reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as fundamental to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and gender equity. Despite significant progress, millions globally still lack access to critical SRHR services. Investing in SRHR is not just the right thing to do, it's essential for achieving a healthier, more equitable future for all. #ICPD30 #SRHRForAll #UHC #WomensHealth #GlobalHealth Tabinda Sarosh Crystal Lander