Last night, seventeen Canadian organizations working in global health came together to highlight World Health Day, hosting “Health for All: The Journey to Empower Every Woman and Child to Thrive” in Ottawa.
Event attendees were able to immerse themselves in the lives of women and children around the world through a curated art exhibit showcasing the global health and nutrition initiatives being delivered by Canadian organizations.
Julia Anderson, Acting Executive Director of CanWaCH, opened the night by speaking to how this was an opportunity for the global health community to celebrate Canadian leadership and accomplishments while looking forward towards our collective vision for a world where every woman and every child has the opportunity to THRIVE.
The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality shared her personal connection to the crucial work that Canadian organizations are doing around the world. She spoke about the power of partnership and the importance of Canada’s continued leadership in global women and children’s health.
“Investing in girls is not only the right thing, it is the smart thing” – Minister Monsef
Minister Monsef spoke about the countdown to Women Deliver 2019 in Vancouver – which is only eight weeks away. On the road to the conference, Canadians are seizing the moment and coming together to leverage our collective power to make sure that women and girls at home and abroad can thrive. Over 275 organizations have joined together as a part of the Women Deliver 2019 Mobilization Canada to push for real progress on gender equality in advance of the Women Deliver 2019 Conference.
Barbara Nzigiye, a Women Deliver Young Leader, closed the evening by stressing the importance of supporting local organizations and grassroots movements in the lead up to the conference. She left event attendees with a reminder that young leaders are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but when they are given the right tools, they become the leaders of today!
