Global Health Equity: How World Vision is Elevating Health Access and Equality

As we observe World Health Day, the world is grappling with health disparities deeply rooted in social and economic inequalities, such as education, employment, income, gender, and ethnicity. Diseases, including many that are preventable, disproportionately affect the developing world, with the burden skewed towards those in the lower socio-economic strata. Access to and coverage for health services remains elusive for billions, exacerbating financial hardships due to health costs for approximately 2 billion individuals globally. The COVID-19 pandemic only intensified these challenges, disrupting essential health services and widening the gaps in health equity. At World Vision, we are committed to bridging these gaps through targeted, innovative health programs. Our mission focuses not only on meeting immediate needs but implementing sustainable health solutions that promise a bright future for communities worldwide.?

World Vision is committed to improving global health through targeted, innovative programs designed to address the complex challenges of health inequity. By focusing on scalable and sustainable solutions, these initiatives are grounded in a holistic approach to health care, emphasizing the integration of mental health, child mortality reduction, malaria control, and comprehensive services to prevent and treat disease. Below are just a few of our programs that are not only achieving immediate health improvements but also laying the groundwork for long-term health equity and resilience.?

• Ethiopia’s Mindful Shift: Breaking Down Mental Health Barriers: World Vision is transforming the mental health landscape in Ethiopia through Strengthening PSNP Institutions and Resilience II (SPIR II), a USAID BHA-funded initiative that is addressing the psychological needs of communities affected by food insecurity and economic hardships. Utilizing the WHO’s Group Problem Management Plus (GPM+) model offers a lifeline to vulnerable individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, and stress by integrating mental health care into community settings and fostering environments where individuals learn coping mechanisms and resilience-building strategies. Over 5,000 beneficiaries have experienced measurable improvements in their mental well-being, underscoring the impact and critical role of access to mental health programs in overall community resilience.?
• Revolutionizing Child Health in Uganda: In Uganda, the Integrated Community Case Management (ICCM) initiative epitomizes our holistic approach to child health. Targeting the most prevalent causes of child mortality, ICCM empowers community health workers to provide life-saving interventions. From training caregivers in illness recognition to strengthening health system capabilities, ICCM is a robust model for community-driven child health care. In Uganda, the model has resulted in significant reduction in child mortality through approaches like increasing access to screening of more than 129,000 children for critical illnesses and significantly boosting community access to and engagement in health practices. Learn more about this program and access the Community Case Management Toolkit and other tools and resources??
• Malawi’s Malaria Control Milestone: Our collaboration with The Global Fund Fund set a benchmark in malaria prevention through the Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) campaign in Malawi. Targeting districts with the highest malaria burden, IRS disrupts the transmission cycle by eliminating the vector habitats. Achieving a spray coverage of 96.8%, the IRS campaign has protected nearly 2 million people, including vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children under the age 5 years old, showcasing a scalable and effective approach to vector control. This initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved with focused intervention and collaboration, significantly reducing malaria incidence in the targeted areas. The success of the project was a culmination of high-level coordination at all levels of implementation, commitment of the stakeholders, and efforts made to create an enabling environment. Learn more about the project and access related resources .?
• Comprehensive HIV Services in Mozambique: The USAID -funded Strengthening Communities through Integrated Programming (SCIP) project in Mozambique is an example of our comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS. Through community-based services, testing, counseling, and treatment initiation, SCIP is a cornerstone of our efforts to achieve HIV epidemic control. Incorporating the DREAMS initiative to empower girls and young women, SCIP addresses the root causes of HIV risk, strengthening the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. Testing and counseling over 192,500 individuals, and establishing 375 Girls Clubs under DREAMS, SCIP made significant strides towards reducing HIV incidence and supporting those living with the virus. Learn more about and DREAMS and other World Vision projects addressing the global HIV and AIDS crisis .?

Advancing Gender Equity and Social Inclusion in Health Programming?

Advancing gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) is critical to achieving health equity. The right to health must be enjoyed by everyone without discrimination, and achieving this requires targeted efforts to ensure equal and inclusive access, decision-making, participation, systems, and well-being for the most vulnerable. Integrating GESI approaches in health programming can help identify and address barriers in health programs and ensures vulnerable groups can equally access and participate in health decision-making structures and benefit from health-related development interventions.?

An example of our GESI approach in action is the Prioritization of GESI Across Health Interventions in Western Equatoria project, which focuses on ensuring equitable access to quality health services for all and strengthening health systems in South Sudan. The project uses a multisectoral approach to address the social determinants of health. World Vision works to create a conducive environment for mainstreaming GESI in the health system, build the capacity of health providers and ensure equal access to and use of health services, and improve health-seeking behaviors of vulnerable populations, encouraging them to exercise their rights to obtain health services. Working closely with the Government of South Sudan’s Ministry of Health and other partners, the project increased access to health services for women, children, and other vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. It strengthened the health system and supported the establishment of essential infrastructure in health facilities including building ramps for persons with disabilities and private rooms for delivery or the examination of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. It helped increase the number of persons with disabilities accessing health services. It also enhanced access to services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and persons with mental and neurological disorders. Read a detailed explanation of this project as a documented GESI promising practice. ?

Towards a Brighter Future?

Through initiatives like these, World Vision is implementing effective, integrated, community-based health strategies to address global health challenges. By prioritizing local partnerships, capacity building, and evidence-based interventions, these programs not only achieve immediate health improvements but also lay the groundwork for long-term health equity and resilience.?

As we commemorate World Health Day, take a moment to learn more about this awareness day and how you can be involved:??

• View or download our GESI Approach and Theory of Change, which outlines our multi-faceted process of transformation that promotes equal and inclusive access, decision-making, participation, and well-being of the most vulnerable; transforms systems, social norms, and relations to enable the most vulnerable to participate in and benefit equally from development interventions; builds individual and collective agency, resilience, and action; and promotes the empowerment and well-being of vulnerable children, their families, and communities.??
• View or download our Toolkit for Integrating GESI in Design, Monitoring and Evaluation for resources to help you and your staff design inclusive relief and development programming or our Reference Guides , arranged by sector (including health ), presenting practical guidance for GESI integration with attention to standards and best practices.??
• Learn how you can use your voice to advocated for the continuation of PEPFAR, a bipartisan U.S. initiative to eliminate HIV and AIDS as a global health threat by 2030 .?
• Help us spread the word by sharing this article on LinkedIn to raise awareness and highlight solutions in addressing health equity.?