Promoting health equity for a better planet was the focus of a two-day conference co-hosted by the RCSI Institute of Global Surgery and the Irish Global Health Network (IGHN) on 2 and 3 October.

The conference was a call to action, recognising the urgent need to foster a sense of shared humanity while dismantling colonial legacies in the realm of global health.
By embracing a decolonised and more equitable perspective, the conference explored innovative strategies, human-centric practices, and inclusive policies that strive for health equity on a global scale.

The conference also addressed transformative partnerships, health education empowerment, gender equity in health, sexual reproductive health and rights, innovative and decolonising health approaches, global mental health resilience, health for refugees and migrants, health response in crises and conflict, health resilience in a changing planet and strengthening health systems.

Nearly 200 delegates attended the conference, hearing from over 100 speakers, moderators and abstract presenters. It included the ever-popular Global Health Village; individual stalls representing partner organisations providing opportunities for networking among attendees, an IGHNx taster session on climate change; a TEDx style format where topics are discussed that challenge your thinking and deliver thought-provoking questions on topics surrounding the broad theme of global health and the announcement of three re-accredited ESTHER partnerships.

Keynote Speakers included Dr Tony Holohan, former Chief Medical Officer of Ireland, Prof. Juan Carlos Puyana, Chair of Global Surgery, RCSI, Anne Nolan, Irish Aid, Nadine Ferris France, Irish Global Health Network, Caoimhe Nic a' Bháird, UNICEF Headquarters, Christian Acemah, Uganda Academy of Sciences, and Eunice Philip, School of Population Health, RCSI, and many more.

Impact on surgical care

During the conference Prof. Juan Carlos Puyana highlighted the impact of the RCSI Institute of Global Surgery around the world and was delighted to formally announce the Institute’s collaborating Faculty members, Prof. Jean O’Sullivan, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Tallaght University Hospital, Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at Trinity College Dublin and Chair of the United Nations Global Surgery Learning Hub (SURGhub) Project Scope Committee, Mr Dermot O’Flynn, Adjunct Lecturer at the Graduate School of Healthcare Management (GSM) and a director for the Meath Foundation, and Prof. Feargal Quinn, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon/Urologist 1997-2022 (now retired), Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery in RSCI and long-term Operation Childlife volunteer.

Dr Godfrey Sama Philipo, Research and Patient Outcomes Coordinator, RCSI Institute of Global Surgery presented his work on, 'Improving access to surgical care in rural settings of East Central and Southern Africa'.

Lived realities

Eric O’Flynn, Programme Director for Education, Training and Advocacy, RCSI Institute of Global Surgery and IGHN Board member, officially launched the report, 'Enacting an Ethic of Responsibility and Care in Global Health Partnerships – A consensus study of the Uganda National Academy of Sciences'.

RCSI Institute of Global Surgery Research Fellow Dr Ellen Pieterse presented her research on, 'Unending Internships: Why Sierra Leone’s nursing graduates are unable to contribute to achieving UHC.

Selected pieces from 'The Akazi Exhibition – Breast Cancer in Malawi', a unique and powerful exhibition that showcased the photography of Antonio Jaén Osuna, Institute of Global Surgery communication specialist, who has been documenting the lived realities of women battling with breast cancer in rural Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world, were on display during the conference.

Also displayed were selected pieces from 'Beyond the Surface: Art, Illuminating the Future of Surgery', from IGS Education Programme Officer, Méabh Hennelly and Ines Hermoine Mulford.