On 6 March 2024, UNU will host “Advancing the Concept of Global Health”, a BIG IDEAS Dialogue with Dr. Anders Nordström, former Ambassador for Global Health, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden. This online event will be held via Zoom webinar at 18:00 JST (UTC+9).
Over the past few decades, global health has seen significant improvements, yet disparities in health outcomes persist both between and within countries. While the concept of global health is challenged today, investing in global and multilateral cooperation is essential. However, to address the evolving world, we must adapt our concepts and collaborative approaches to transcend global health beyond merely an agenda for development cooperation. Our vision must be to formulate a new, united agenda that brings together stakeholders from all corners of the world. By forging robust global and multilateral cooperation, we can tackle the most pressing health challenges together.
One of the core focuses must be to confront the rising burden of premature non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality. Our work should target major risk factors contributing to NCDs, addressing not only their immediate impact but also the underlying structural challenges. Moreover, we must recognize the need to be proactive in tackling present and future health threats and emergencies that cross borders.
Dr. Anders Nordström will join UNU Senior Vice-Rector Sawako Shirahase to discuss the concept of global health and how we can move this concept beyond the development paradigm, beyond unfinished development targets and beyond the health sector with a holistic approach that involves the transformation of food, energy and infrastructure systems.
Please note this event will be in English; Japanese interpretation will not be provided. Advance registration by 5 March is required. Registrants will receive an email on the day of the event with a link to attend via Zoom webinar.
About the speaker
Dr. Anders Nordström is the former Swedish Ambassador for Global Health.
A medical doctor by background, today Dr. Nordström is an advisor associated with the Karolinska Institute and the Stockholm School of Economics as well as principal senior fellow at the UNU International Institute for Global Health in Malaysia.
He is currently a member of the Alliance for Health Systems Research board, the SUN-Lancet PRIME Commission, the International Vaccine Institute Global Advisory Group of Experts, and the Virchow Foundation for Global Health Council.
Recently, he headed the Secretariat for the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (2020–21).
He served as Acting Director-General of WHO (May 2006 – January 2007) and as Assistant Director-General for General Management (2003–2006), Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Services (2007) and Head of the WHO Country Office in Sierra Leone (2015–17).
As Interim Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria he established the Fund as a legal entity in 2002.
He has previously served as a board member of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, GAVI, UNAIDS and PMNCH and has chaired a number of international working groups and processes.
He was the Director-General for the Swedish International Agency for Development Cooperation fro 2007 to 2010.
