Johnson & Johnson convenes discussions on Millennium Development Goal challenges and the way forward

Johnson & Johnson convened leaders in global health and development to discuss progress made and next steps needed to expand interventions to save the lives of 16 million women and children around the world. Three sessions refocused attention on newborn survival, new collaborations to treat and prevent intestinal worm infections, and the expansion of promising practices needed to strengthen the global health work force.

Led by Lancet editor Richard Horton, the newborn health session, Where Should the Money Go, Prevention or Care? included views from UNICEF’s Mickey Chopra, WHO’s Liz Mason, Co-Chair of the MDG Health Alliance Leith Greenslade, PMNCH Executive Director Carole Presern, March of Dimes’ Chris Howson, Winnie Mwebesa from Save the Children and International Pediatric Association Executive Director Bill Keenan.

ABC News Chief Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser brought much needed focus to pediatric intestinal worms, one of the world’s most neglected health conditions, centering on country actions needed to address water and sanitation and the importance of multi-sectoral partnerships. Distinguished panelists and guests included Her Royal Highness Princess Sara Zeid of Jordan, former President of Ghana His Excellency John Kuofur, Dr. Lorenzo Savioli, head of NTD’s at WHO and Helen Keller International Director’s CEO Kathy Spawn.

Promising practices to strengthen the health care workforce and the future of human resources in health (HRH) were covered with diverse perspectives from Richard Chivaka from the University of Cape Town, along with Dr. Ariel Pablos-Mendez, assistant administrator for global health at USAID, Front Line Health Worker Coalition Chair Mary Beth Powers, Kate Tulenko from Intrahealth, Zina Jarrah from Management Sciences for Health and mHealth Alliance Executive Director Patty Mechael. In the lead up to the Third Global Forum on HRH in Recife, Brazil, there was lively discussion on the commitment to measurement, compensation practices and costs of HRH infrastructure, and cross-sector partnerships.