By Taliyah Winn

On a brisk November day, World Health Assembly (WHA) Representatives convene for the 2024 American Model United Nations Conference in Chicago to strategize and find solutions to two aspects of world health – women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health and the public health dimension of the global drug problem. The WHA is the decision making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), composed of 194 member states. 

Women, children and adolescents around the world experience inequalities in healthcare access. To address this, the WHA created the Global Strategy for Women’s Children’s and Adolescent’s Health (2016-2030) – a roadmap for reducing deaths associated with pregnancy and improving the overall well-being of these groups. In February 2024, UNICEF found that “fewer than one in ten children in low-income countries have access to child benefits, leaving them vulnerable to disease, missed education, poor nutrition, poverty and inequality.” 

An emerging theme in discussions of women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health is education – both about health issues and vocational pathways in health care. 

Representative Jude Beekman of Libya began Working Paper AA to examine health issues with a focus on Arab nations. “From what I’ve been hearing from other Arab Nations, they are really concerned about refugees, they are really concerned about infrastructure as well as education programs,” Representative Beekman said. Working Paper BB is working to use existing mechanisms to address health concerns about childbirth and early childhood help. 

In a speech to the body, The Holy See (observer) mentioned the Catholic church’s financial contributions to vulnerable communities. “For example, in Kenya, 30 percent of Kenya’s healthcare is provided by the Catholic Church and Holy See,” Representative Antony Souss of the Holy See said. “I have been working with Latin American nations… we are trying to tackle healthcare inside critical access communities.” Tackling education, healthcare pathways and funding will be integral steps to further the progress of the WHA’s draft resolutions.