ITPC’s Executive Director Solange Baptiste delivered the following statement on behalf of the Health ImPACT Coalition at the United Nations #SummitOfTheFuture in New York.

Your Excellencies, Honorable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,

While you may hear my voice, I represent many, and many who have been excluded from this room. So it is indeed a privilege to address this Assembly on behalf of ITPC Global and community partners affected by various health conditions. As a co-lead of the Health ImPACT Coalition, which includes over 300 NGOs, we strive for health equity and human rights worldwide.

Today’s dialogue is pivotal, and only 3 mins, so here are FIVE urgent messages:

1. Health must be a Priority:

Without good health, we can’t effectively tackle any other global goals—it’s that simple. If we fail to prioritize health now, we doom future generations to a cycle of suffering and inequality. Let’s not forget that this Summit began because we faced serious challenges during COVID-19 and other health crises. Yet, despite what we’ve learned, the current Pact still doesn’t prioritize health meaningfully. This must change today. There is no future without health!

2. Global Crises Need Local Responses:

While global discussions can lead to more conventions and treaties, we must ALSO focus on local realities and provide substantial resources to empower communities and strengthen national institutions. Meaningful participation of youth and affected communities in decision-making at all levels is crucial. Recent emergencies like Mpox and the COVID-19 pandemic have not only affected physical health but have also led to other knock-on crises, including mental health and unemployment. This shows, yet again, that the most vulnerable lack a voice and bear the harshest impacts.

3. We Can No Longer Ignore the Health-Climate Link:

The One Health approach is essential for our survival. We cannot afford to separate health from environmental issues any longer. Resilience relies on active community involvement and equitable access to clean water and healthy ecosystems. We must also recognize that strengthening these systems enhances our pandemic preparedness and promotes a shared approach to addressing shared threats. If we ignore this connection, we are condemning our future.

4. Transform How We Invest:

Global Public Investment (GPI) offers a transformative framework for financing global challenges. We must radically shift our mindset from seeing health as a cost to recognizing it as a crucial investment in our collective future. Sustainable financing solutions for public health must prioritize primary healthcare, community-led initiatives and the better management of intellectual property so as to catapult our ability to provide equitable access to good health for all.

5. Let’s Talk Accountability:

If we allow vague promises to dominate, we fail those who depend on us for real action. The current Pact is a betrayal of our hopes. There are no timelines, targets or dedicated resources. Civil society must play a meaningful role in its governance, decision-making, and the monitoring of our commitments, to ensure that our progress is transparent and accountable.

Together, we must choose the right side of history. Our debt to the future has never been greater, and the future is now. If not us, who? If not now, when?