From Berlin to Dakar: Making Young People’s Voices Resonate at the Highest Levels of the Global Health Ecosystem
Youth were at the forefront of a series of dynamic and inspiring global health events that took place in October 2024.
As a member of Burkina Faso’s Voix EssentiELLES and the Global Fund’s Youth Council, I had the opportunity to attend the 2024 World Health Summit in Berlin. While there, I took part in the Youth Summit for Health, an initiative that brings together young leaders from different backgrounds and networks who are working toward a common goal: to support the Global Fund’s next Replenishment conference in 2025.
Then I headed off to Dakar to take part in the Galien Forum. The event’s main theme was “Health and community action in the face of climate and environmental crises in Africa.”
Youth Summit for Health: Young People’s Voices in the Fight Against Malaria and in Support of the next Global Fund Replenishment
The summit offered me a valuable opportunity to share the reality of many young people and women in Burkina Faso who are affected by malaria and face challenges related to accessing care. I was able to highlight how important it is for youth to participate in decision-making processes and gain access to international platforms. I was also able to exchange ideas with other committed young people about how we could get involved and offer new perspectives to positively influence global health funding. Together, we identified our strengths as young leaders and discussed the importance of mobilizing our communities through awareness campaigns, actively championing causes at the national and international levels, and participating in research to support innovation in health care.
This experience has made visible the power of youth mobilization. Our determination and commitment are clear driving forces in securing and increasing the resources of the Global Fund, which are essential to combating HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
World Health Summit: When Young People and Leaders Work Together
The World Health Summit offered me the opportunity to attend strategic sessions on themes such as the impact that Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund, have on the world; health in the context of climate change; and the importance of investing in women’s health. I also took part in a meeting with Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, during which he highlighted the key role that civil society and youth networks play in mobilizing malaria-endemic countries.
The intergenerational dialogue was one of the highlights of the Summit. Alongside personalities such as Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, and Peter Sands, we discussed ways of further strengthening young people’s involvement in the fight against malaria. In my speech, I stressed the importance of considering young people not just as resources, but as strategic players capable of providing innovative and sustainable solutions. As a representative of Voix EssentiELLES, I feel a special responsibility to ensure that the voices of young women from Burkina Faso and other African countries are heard at the highest levels of the global health community. I therefore called for greater support for young people, including in the fields of digital technology and community-based advocacy, so that we can have a significant impact on our communities. The leaders’ reactions were encouraging and showed that the potential of young people is recognized, even if more structured support and funding are still needed to achieve our common goals.
Galien Forum Africa: Women, Youth and Climate Resilience
At the Galien Forum Africa, held in Dakar from October 22 to 25, I had the honor of taking part in a panel discussion on the theme “Climate and health resilience in Africa: women and young people lead the way.” The discussions highlighted the impact of climate change on diseases such as malaria, and how young people, and especially women, can be at the heart of climate resilience in their communities. My talk focused on the importance of mobilizing youth to integrate climate challenges into public health discussions and policies, with a focus on malaria. This discussion strengthened my resolve to pursue my digital initiatives, including my blog, in order to amplify women’s voices and promote their role in disease prevention. Participating in this panel enabled me to forge valuable ties with other committed young people, and to share perspectives and solutions to strengthen our impact at the regional level.
These events drove home one major point: young people are not just the future, they are the present of global health. With our passion and energy, we have the potential to make a difference and actively contribute to a healthier world. However, strong partnerships and structured support are needed to ensure our impact is sustainable. I know that we have not only the will, but also the power to drive change in health care and more broadly in the global development ecosystem. Let’s keep up our commitment and make our voices resonate when we call for more inclusive and sustainable global health!