As a leader in Global Health, normally you would have been invited to brief the US Delegation to the UN on the key global health priorities and offer advice for how the presidents leadership could make a difference in the work of the international organizations that work in global health.
However we are in the midst of a global health crisis that has triggered a global economic crisis. These twin challenges have exposed fissures in the social fabric of countries in every region of the world. These issues will be on the UNs agenda this fall as well .
And so this year, the president has decided to create an opportunity to interact with the nations thought leaders, like yourself, in a virtual town hall together with his UN team. The team includes Samantha Power, the current Administrator of USAID and former US ambassador to the UN.
You are invited to speak to them in a lightening round of commentary on his first speech to the UN as president. Your comments will be included in the briefing book for preparation of his UN speech this year.
The Zoom room is crowded. You will have about a minute (about 130-150 words) to pitch an idea for how to solve a global health challenge. You need his leadership.
At the end of your speech you hope that the president will ask you to follow up with the team to develop your suggestions.
Outline and Guiding questions:
Start: Compliment him on either one of the achievements of his administration or one of the challenges that his administration intends to address.
1. Introduce yourself and your organization. Let him know that your organization has been at the forefront of every successful major health initiative since WWII and you look forward to supporting his administration in ensuring continued US leadership in global health.
2. Inform him about a global health challenge that requires his leadership through use of his pen or his phone.
3. Mention the scope and magnitude of the issue using compelling evidence, a sharp data picture.
4. Tell him why it is important to the United States, other countries in the world and international development partners.
5. Suggest ONE action he could take that would make a difference to a worldwide effort to address the problem.
