Unlocking the Value of Women and Health
Date and time
()
Duration
3h
Language
English
Location
InterContinental Hotel, Geneva
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Background

In a time of economic instability and shrinking health budgets, women’s health is often sidelined, despite being essential to resilient health systems and economic growth. 

C/Can is challenging this narrative by highlighting how equitable investment in women’s cancer care can act as a stabilising force and economic multiplier. Evidence shows closing gender gaps in health could add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2025 and boost workforce participation by 137 million women by 2040. 

At this World Health Assembly (WHA) side event, C/Can will bring together cross-sector leaders to explore how gender-responsive health financing can drive inclusive growth and long-term health system resilience. The session builds on global thought leadership to advocate for policy reform that treats women’s health not as a cost, but as a high-impact investment.

The Programme

  1. Networking coffee
  2. Welcome remarks
    • Isabel Mestres, CEO, City Cancer Challenge (C/Can)
  3. Health investment that transforms Women and Health
    • Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health, Ghana
  4. Why Women and Health drive innovation and impact?

    Moderated by: Isabel Mestres, CEO, City Cancer Challenge (C/Can)

    • Dr Haidong Wang, Unit Head, Monitoring, Forecasting and Inequalities, World Health Organization (WHO)
    • Elisabeth Staudinger, Managing Board Member, Siemens Healthineers
    • Michael Oberreiter, Head of External Affairs International, Roche
    • Nwamaka Lasebikan, Director Research and Innovation, NICRAT
  5. Q&A

    Moderated by: Isabel Mestres, CEO, City Cancer Challenge (C/Can)

  6. Showcasing Impact: stories from C/Can cities of public value in action

    Moderated by:

    • Carolyn Taylor, Founder and Executive Director, Global Focus on Cancer
    • Nana Mebonia, Head of Division, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health Georgia
    • Carolina Goic, Former senator and academic, Republic of Chile
  7. Q&A

    Moderated by: Isabel Mestres, CEO, City Cancer Challenge (C/Can)

  8. Closing remarks: From insight to investment, youth engagement

    Marina Sigliano, Biomedical sciences student, University of Brighton, UK

  9. Networking coffee

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