Achieving a healthier future: The strategic role of business in improving the well-being of women, children and youth
There is a clear link between economic prosperity and the health of women, children and adolescents. For business, addressing global health is not only a moral imperative, but also consistent with strategic economic decisions that promote gender equality, foster economic growth, and build prosperous societies.
However, there are many challenges to achieving improved health outcomes, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Many health systems were already strained and underfunded before the coronavirus outbreak, and are under increasing pressure from the effects of climate change, conflict and challenging economic conditions.
Last week, Business Fights Poverty held an online written discussion to explore what businesses can do to improve the health of women, children and young people, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The dialogue is part of the Business Fight Poverty collaboration, which supports the Global Financial Facility for Women, Children and Youth (GFF)'s Delivering the Future campaign, and explores how the private sector can The focus is on how we can focus our efforts on global efforts to strengthen the medical system. We discussed how businesses can be empowered through innovation, partnerships, and increased financial investment.
1. Leverage core business competencies to improve workforce and community nutrition
Businesses in all sectors can play an important role in promoting the health, especially nutrition, of their employees and communities. A study of 19 countries found that worker malnutrition impacts productivity and economic stability. Initiatives like the Workforce Nutrition Alliance and Impact4Nutrition partner with employers to ensure workers have access to and information about healthy nutrition, breastfeeding support, and nutrition-focused health screenings. . Companies such as Unilever and Olam are working to roll out such health and nutrition programs to all employees.
Additionally, companies need to take a holistic view of health and nutrition that extends beyond their employees to the communities in which they operate. Assam's Healthy Line shop model, which uses efficient supply chain management to ensure widespread distribution of essential health and nutrition products, serves as a strong example of this.
2. Commitment to accessibility, affordability, and equity in health care
Addressing accessibility, affordability and equity in health care, especially in disadvantaged and remote areas, is critical. Digital technology can play an important role in addressing these issues. For example, the Vodafone Foundation's m-mama initiative shows that combining digital technology and government initiatives can enable timely emergency medical transport in remote areas and significantly reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. . Additionally, digital platforms such as YLab's Cyber Rwanda and Tegura Ejo Heza are helping to promote youth health, livelihood education, mental health literacy.
Community health workers (CHWs) and community-run primary health centers are critical to providing health care to rural and underserved areas. Investments in CHWs not only strengthen health care delivery but also address issues of gender and equity in the health workforce, which requires specific financial and policy support.
3. Supporting primary health care systems and health workers
Continued stress on health systems in several countries is exacerbated by limited economic resources, with governments investing in health care and providing substantial annual funding for maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health. It hinders our ability to fill the gap. Funds like the Global Financial Facility (GFF) can help facilitate investments from organizations such as the World Bank to strengthen effective interventions and implement national health plans for women and children's health. Extremely important.
Ensuring clear regulation, trust, transparency, subsidized capital, and mechanisms to reduce private sector investment risks are essential to fostering private sector involvement in health investment. Additionally, large organizations can support local innovation by collaborating with smaller organizations, especially those seeking to drive rapid and impactful change.
Join us in our mission to create a healthier future
With women making up 40% of the world's workforce and children growing into the future workforce, women's health is an absolute issue for businesses. It was also clear from the discussion that you don't have to work in the medical or pharmaceutical fields to work to improve the health of women, children and young people. Companies with global supply chains, technology companies, telecommunications companies, agriculture, transportation, logistics, education, insurance, and finance companies (to name just a few) bring their unique expertise, networks, and advocacy voices to the table. , plays an important role. A healthier, more resilient future.
Editor's note: Business Fights Poverty is currently working with the Global Financing Facility on the initiative 'Providing a Healthy Future for Women, Children and Youth: What's the Role of Business?' Please join us and share your experiences. spread the word Learn about GFF's #DeliverTheFuture campaign and connect with others working on this important topic. Click here for details.
Download the complete insights summary
Thank you to our expert panel: We are very grateful to each of the contributors to this online written discussion.
- Emily Carey, Senior Health System Advisor, NHS Consortium on Global Health
- Aishwarya Choubey, Senior Associate, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
- Colleen Connell, Managing Director, Health Finance Coalition
- Philip Eisenhart, Access to Nutrition Initiative Communications Lead
- Lisa Felton, Vodafone Group Foundation Director, Vodafone Foundation
- Dr. Samson Gwer, Executive Director, Afya Research Africa
- Brendan Hayes, Senior Health Specialist, Global Financial Institution for Women, Children and Youth
- Sabina Hyseni, Global Lead for Health Advocacy through Business, Private Fundraising and Partnerships, UNICEF
- Tania Lessenka Teodosiev, Project Manager and Senior Analyst at Endeva
- Natacha Mugeni, YLabs Digital Health Director
- Ruth Munyinyi, SUN Business Network Senior Associate, Global Partnership for Improved Nutrition, Global Alliance
- Camila de Nardi, Private Sector Partnership Advisor, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
