Increasing access to medical oxygen: Actions to ensure sustained gains
This World Health Assembly (WHA) high-level side event marked the adoption of the “Increasing Access to Medical Oxygen” WHA resolution and introduced the Global Oxygen Alliance (GO2AL) as two important steps in recognizing and reaffirming the critical role of medical oxygen in building resilient health systems.
This high-level side event Increasing access to medical oxygen: Action to ensure sustained gains was convened by the newly established Global Oxygen Alliance (GO2AL), with the support of Unitaid, the World Health Organization, and PATH. The event marked the adoption of the “Increasing Access to Medical Oxygen” World Health Assembly resolution and introduce GO2AL as two important steps in recognizing and reaffirming the critical role of medical oxygen in building resilient health systems.
The event was hosted by Mr. Jérôme Bonnafont, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations Office in Geneva and international organizations in Switzerland, on the sidelines of the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva on Wednesday, 24 May 2023, from 17:30 – 20:30.
The event included two sessions: (1) high-level panel discussions followed by (2) a cocktail reception. More information is available in the event programme, available in English and French.
Event summary
The high-level panel discussions were divided in two parts, with opening and closing remarks. See below for more details.
Opening remarks
The audience was welcomed by the French Ambassador for Global Health, with introductions from partners at PATH, and opening remarks from representatives of the Ugandan Ministry of Health, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the World Health Organization. See below for highlights from their remarks.
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Part 1: World Health Assembly "Increasing access to medical oxygen" resolution
The first panel was opened and moderated by oxygen champions from the World Health Organization. Representatives from Chad, Nepal, and Peru discussed the importance of oxygen in their respective countries, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of the WHA resolution to sustain those gains. See below for highlights from their remarks.
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Part 2: Launch of the Global Oxygen Alliance (GO2AL)
The second panel was opened and moderated by the Executive Director of the Lean on Me Foundation. Representatives from multilateral agencies and leaders of GO2AL, including Unitaid, The Global Fund, World Heath Organization/Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF, discussed the importance of the Alliance in continuing and building upon the efforts to scale up oxygen beyond the pandemic response. See below for highlights from their remarks.
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Closing remarks
The panel discussions were closed by the Canadian Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations and the Assistant Director-General of Universal Health Coverage/Life Course at the World Health Organization. See below for highlights from their remarks.
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Other event resources
Press releases and media coverage
- PATH press release: Landmark oxygen resolution adopted by WHO Member States
- Unitaid press release: Global Oxygen Alliance launched to boost access to life saving oxygen
- Devex article: How can medical oxygen maintain the momentum it saw during COVID-19?
- Think Global Health article: Build an oxygen ecosystem
Photo gallery
Robert Matiru from Unitaid opens the event as master of ceremonies. Photo credit: Unitaid.
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The audience of the WHA side event on oxygen. Photo credit: Unitaid.
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Lisa Smith and Dr. Nabeel Goheer from PATH provide introductions for the event. Photo credit: Unitaid.
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Dr. Atul Gawande from USAID provides opening remarks for the event. Photo credit: Unitaid.
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Dr. Charles Olaro from the Ugandan Ministry of Health provides opening remarks for the event. Photo credit: Unitaid.
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Dr. Mike Ryan from the World Health Organization provides opening remarks for the event. Photo credit: Unitaid.
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Adriana Berumen and Dr. Janet Diaz from the World Health Organization moderate the first panel where countries discuss the impact of the WHA oxygen resolution. Photo credit: Unitaid.
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Dr. Sarah England, senior adviser of GO2AL, gives opening remarks before the start of the second panel on the Global Oxygen Alliance. Photo credit: Unitaid.
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Maurine Murenga from the Lean on Me Foundation moderates the second panel where representatives from GO2AL partners discuss its launch. Photo credit: Unitaid.
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Dr. Bruce Aylward from the World Health Organization provides closing remarks for the event. Photo credit: Unitaid.
10 of 10Find more photos from the event in Unitaid's Flickr gallery.
Photo credit (all photos): Unitaid
