Date & Time
9:00am, 22 October 2024 - 10:30am, 22 October 2024Location
Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Beach Road, Apia, SamoaAbout the event
Achieving health justice for the most vulnerable is a moral imperative and a truly global challenge. Right across the Commonwealth, preventable differences in the burden of ill-health persist. This session will explore what health justice means for the diverse populations of the Commonwealth and, crucially, how we can take practical steps to achieve it. Our speakers will explore innovation that can drastically improve access to quality care in some of the world’s most marginalised and underserved communities, as well as strategies for advocacy, cross-sector partnerships, and integrating traditional knowledge with modern medicine.
Photo: US AID
Guests
Justin Koonin is a member of the UHC Movement Political Panel, and former co-chair of UHC2030, the international multistakeholder partnership for universal health coverage. He is a member of multiple WHO expert panels, including for the Universal Health Preparedness Review, and on HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs.
He is Distinguished Fellow and Honorary Professorial Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health, Adjunct Associate Professor at the Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, and an Advisory Governor of the Commonwealth Foundation. In 2025, Justin will be a Resident at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center. At a national level, Justin is President of ACON (formerly AIDS Council of New South Wales), Australia’s largest civil society organisation working on HIV prevention, care and support, and the health of sexuality and gender-diverse people more broadly.
Justin’s work spans a diverse range of sectors. In addition to his efforts in health and human rights, he has worked as a postdoctoral researcher in mathematics at the University of Sydney, as a data scientist at PwC, and (currently) as a fund manager at Allan Gray. He holds a Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics from the University of Sydney, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder, as well as a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Abi Begho is the Founder and Programme Director of Lake Health and Wellbeing (LHW), an NGO based in St Kitts and Nevis. LHW is dedicated to improving health and wellbeing across St Kitts, Nevis, and the wider Caribbean. With over 15 years of experience in the health sector, Abi has led several successful projects focusing on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and women’s health. Her work includes exploring the lived experiences of those affected by chronic conditions, developing and implementing public health interventions, advocating for evidence-based health policies, and leveraging technology to create engaging, innovative approaches to health education. Additionally, Abi has built an alliance of NGOs in St Kitts and Nevis focused on the prevention and control of NCDs.
Sir Collin Fonotau Tukuitonga KNZM is a prominent Niuean-born New Zealand doctor and public health advocate, known for his work in reducing health inequalities for Māori and Pasifika people. He was knighted in 2022 for his services to Pacific and public health. Sir Collin has held influential roles such as Director General of the Pacific Community, WHO Commissioner, Chief Executive of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, and Director of Public Health. He established Pacific Language weeks and the Niue Culture and Arts Festival. During the Covid crisis, he was a key advocate for Pasifika communities. Currently, he is Associate Dean Pacific, Associate Professor of Population Health, and Director of University Research at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Pacific and Global Health.
Mataafa Faatino Utumapu, a totally blind woman from birth who is making inroads for disability rights in her native Samoa is currently one of 10 Disability Leaders from across the Pacific who assist in the regional implementation of the Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities through the Pacific Disability Forum. Trained by the International Disability Alliance, this team is now responsible for providing in country disability inclusive training to government ministries, NGOS, the private sector and wider community. As the office manager for Nuanua O Le Alofa, the national advocacy organisation for persons with disabilities in Samoa, Mataafa has led advocacy work to support the establishment of the Wheelchair Users Association of Samoa and the Samoa Association of the Deaf. As a female matai, church leader and Sunday school teacher, Mataafa plays an important and respected role in community development.
Dr. Stellah Bosire is a feminist Medical Doctor, Lawyer, Researcher, and Global Health Practitioner. She is the Founding Executive Director of The Africa Center for Health Systems and Gender Justice, dedicated to equitable healthcare and gender justice in Africa. Stellah has extensive experience working with governments, donors, civil society, and grassroots organisations. Her work focuses on advancing health equity and gender justice, particularly for women, girls, and marginalised populations. Stellah’s multidisciplinary approach leverages her medical and legal expertise to address systemic barriers to healthcare in Africa. She is currently the Chairperson of Amnesty International Kenya and serves on the Board of CIVICUS Alliance. She has held leadership roles as Director of the East Africa Sexual Health and Rights Initiative, CEO of Kenya Medical Association, and the Vice Chair of HIV/AIDS Tribunal of Kenya. Stellah holds degrees in Medicine, Law, Global Health Policy, and Business Administration and has received numerous awards for her contributions to health and justice.
Discussion
Date & Time
9:00am, 22 October 2024 - 10:30am, 22 October 2024 AST (GMT + 13)
Location
Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Beach Road, Apia, Samoa
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