Ghana’s Minister for Education appointed to the United Nations High Level Commission on Health employment and Economic Growth

Member states of the United Nations signed onto the Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015,setting an ambitious agenda, particularly with respect to ensuring healthy lives for all. In December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly resolution (A/70/L.32) recognized that investing in new health workforce employment opportunities may also add broader socio-economic value to the economy and contribute to the implementation for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As a result, Member States requested the United Nations Secretary-General to explore steps to meet the global shortfall of trained health workers.

In response, the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has set up the High Level Commission on Health and Employment (ComHEE), chaired by HE Francois Hollande, President of France and HE Jacob Zumah, President of South Africa.

The three Vice Chairs are: Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO); Mr. Angel Gurria, Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); Mr. Guy Rider, Secretary-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO)

The Commissioners are drawn from around the world. They are composed of academics, senior government officials, representatives from international organizations, development actors, executives from private commercial and non/profit organizations, and figures from civil society. The list includes Hon Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Minister for Education, Ghana, HE Dr. Nkosazana Dlamani-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; Dr. Midlays Castlilla, Co-Founder of the Latin American School of Medicine, Cuba; HE Dr. Ewa Kopacz, Former Prime minister, Poland; HE Mr. Dinh Tien Dung, Minister for Finance, Viet Nam; and Dr. Judith Shamian, President, International Council of Nurses, and Prof. Joseph Stigiltz, Economist  and others.

A major objective of the ComHEE is to develop a global strategy implemented at national and local level, as essential to support the determined development of decent jobs, in line with the wider goals set by the United Nations, the G7 and the G20.

The Commission is guided by the conviction that the development of employment in the health and social sector is not only an imperative of international public health. It constitutes a major economic and social opportunity to promote inclusive economic growth and creation of decent jobs, especially for women and youth. It recognizes that the promotion of investment in health requires the development of teaching capacities, in particular through the strengthening of scientific-research, vocational training and university partnerships.

The Commission is required to submit its report to the Secretary-General of the United Nations at the margins of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly (13-26 September 2016). The technical and analytical work carried out will be made available to decision-makers and the public. The final report will be available in the six official languages of the United Nations.

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