Following the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit on the 18-19^th of September which marked the beginning of a new phase of accelerated actions leading up to 2030; UNGA featured three high-level meetings focused on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and response (PPPR), Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and the fight against tuberculosis (TB) on the 2oth, 21^st and 22^nd respectively.  Countries and stakeholders had an opportunity to make sure the world is better prepared for the next pandemic and to renew and accelerate progress towards achieving health for all – solving the world’s most burning problems together.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva raised concerns that the international financial institutions such as the World Bank and IMF provided African countries only a fraction of relief – $34 billion compared to $162 billion given to Europe in 2022. The U.S. President Joe Biden committed to respond and address calls / concerns from the global south citing his administration’s efforts to reform the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and achieve the SDGs – ensuring every person can access full range of quality health services they need when and where they need them without financial hardship.

13 heads of states spoke at the High-Level Meeting on PPPR, and they committed to review progress on pandemic preparedness in 3 years. Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa was present at the High-Level Meeting on TB reviewing commitments made in 2018 to reach $13 billion a year by 2022 for TB prevention and care with the goal to end TB by 2030. His presence demonstrates the commitment by Zimbabwe government to contribute to the goal to Stop TB. While less than half of the $13 billion was raised, countries committed to investing $22 billion per year by 2027. Even though there were worries on the declaration on TB that commitment will not translate into action; Lucica Ditiu of the Stop TB Partnership stated that billions of dollars were earmarked to fight the world’s top infectious disease killer. Continued investment toward the fight against TB is important especially to Zimbabwe where TB is a major challenge, with estimates of 30,000 people being diagnosed with TB each year with about 4,600 deaths.

SAYWHAT Executive Director, Jimmy Wilford attended the UN High-Level Meetings and participated in panel discussions on the impact of civil societies working on SRHR marginalized and underserved communities in Africa and South Asia. Jimmy also made a presentation during the Women Deliver organized side event on countering anti-rights movement sharing the national civil society perspectives on challenges and needs.

Leading up to the flagship meeting, SAYWHAT played an active role in raising awareness and advocating for effective responses to TB among young people in Zimbabwe. Running with the theme “Speak out for Health. YOUTH leading the charge at UNHLM” a social media campaign was implemented to raise awareness on UNHLM and its themes, and the commitments made by Zimbabwe in the fight against TB in 2018. SAYWHAT campaign emphasized meaningful inclusion of young people in driving change and addressing TB.

SAYWHAT invites all to join in advocating for a strong commitment and action to end TB and achieve health for everyone everywhere.