Helga Fogstad

Director, Health Programme @UNICEF | Advocating for women's, children's and adolescents' health and well-being #ForEveryChild

[Catherine Russell @unicefchief]

All of us at UNICEF are thrilled to welcome Lamine Yamal to the UNICEF family, as our newest Goodwill Ambassador.

My deepest thanks to Lamine and to all our UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors. Their voices help build a better world for every child.

#InternationalDayofPlay

[Catherine Russell @unicefchief]

UNICEF delivers #ForEveryChild, thanks to our partners, donors and supporters around the world.

Last year, we responded to over 100 emergencies, saving and improving the lives of millions of children.

As a global community we must do even more. Children are counting on us.

[UNICEF Health @UNICEFhealth]

"Ebola is not only a medical crisis. It has major consequences for children, families and communities through fear, stigma and disruption to essential services.”

@UNICEF’s Global Lead for Public Health Emergencies @DouglasNobleMD visited an #Ebola treatment centre in Bunia, Ituri Province, DR Congo, alongside @WHO Director-General @DrTedros.

With no approved treatment or vaccine, UNICEF is working alongside partners to rapidly scale up life-saving support and safeguard children's health and wellbeing.

#ForEveryChild

[UNICEF Health @UNICEFhealth]

Solutions exist and action is underway. @UNICEF and partners are helping countries respond:

🌡️ India: In 2025, 3,500+ health facilities & 1,600 ambulances equipped to treat heatstroke
🔗 https://t.co/FIudngfBM8

🌡️ Belize: 100,000+ people reached through the country’s first nationwide extreme heat campaign
🔗 https://t.co/gaURg2H8in

[UNICEF Health @UNICEFhealth]

559M children already face frequent heatwaves, and the number is rising fast.

Extreme heat isn’t just a climate issue—it’s a direct threat to children’s health and survival.

Children are especially vulnerable: their bodies heat up faster, cool less efficiently, and struggle to regulate temperature. For infants and pregnant women, extreme heat raises risks of preterm birth, illness, and death.

#WorldEnvironmentDay #ClimateAction
https://t.co/Zu5LHVYMUh

[UNICEF Health @UNICEFhealth]

Nearly 1 million adolescents die annually from mostly preventable causes.

At the #LivesInTheBalance side event, @UNICEF Director of Health @HFogstad discussed the importance working together across sectors, youth engagement, and reaching the most vulnerable adolescents - especially girls - to accelerate action for adolescent health and well-being.

Watch the session: https://t.co/rZ10YRA9Ex
#WHA79

[UNICEF Health @UNICEFhealth]

At #WHA79, @UNICEF, @Trans4m_Health, @OECD, and @ADB_HQ hosted a side event on the need for improved and better tracked investment in digital health and AI.

@UNICEF Director of Health @HFogstad discussed the new Digital Health Taxonomy as a tool to advance transparency and tracking of digital health spending to ensure every child is reached with critical health services.

[UNICEF Health @UNICEFhealth]

Digital health tools only work if the most vulnerable children can use them.

At #WHA79, @UNICEF Chief of Digital Health Transformation, Access, and Equity, Sean Blaschke, joined the Geneva Digital Health Day session to discuss the importance of digital health in the NCD Agenda.

Through integrating child and adolescent NCD and MHPSS targets into national digital health strategies and closing implementation gaps in LMICS, we can reach every child, everywhere, with quality and continuity of care.

[Helga Fogstad @HFogstad]

It was great to join the #LivesInTheBalance panel to discuss how we can accelerate action for adolescent health and well-being, especially girls. We thank @PMNCH for organizing this discussion and remain committed to reaching adolescents everywhere. #WHA79
https://t.co/vS0Liec851

[Helga Fogstad @HFogstad]

We thank @Trans4m_Health, @OECD, and @ADB_HQ for hosting a critical discussion on the Digital Health Investment Taxonomy alongside @UNICEF. The time for better transparency and tracking of digital health spending to advance and protect child health and survival is now. #WHA79

[Helga Fogstad @HFogstad]

I was pleased to join the @UnitedGMH and @UNHumanRights side event supported by @UNICEF and partners at #WHA79. We must advance children’s mental health as a human right & drive policy and financing commitments with care, dignity, & rights at the center of mental health systems.

[UNICEF Health @UNICEFhealth]

Globally, more than 1 in 7 adolescents aged 10–19 are estimated to live with a mental health condition.

At #WHA79, @UNICEF Director of Health @HFogstad joined @UnitedGMH, @UNHumanRights and partners to discuss the urgent need for a human rights approach to mental health care.

Through strong accountability, sustained financing , and meaningful child and youth participation in shaping laws, policies, service design, and monitoring, we can advance the mental health and well-being of every child, everywhere.

[Helga Fogstad @HFogstad]

Great discussion with Dr Abdel-Madjid Abderahim Mahamat on our partnership to advance maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health outcomes in Chad. @UNICEF is dedicated to accelerating the reduction of under‑five mortality together in partnership. #WHA79

[Helga Fogstad @HFogstad]

At #WHA79, I joined a panel discussion hosted by @StJude in collaboration with @UNICEF and partners to discuss childhood cancer in the global NCD agenda. A life-course approach to survivorship is essential to protect the long-term outcomes for childhood cancer survivors.

[UNICEF Health @UNICEFhealth]

At #WHA79, @StJude in collaboration with @UNICEF, @AfricaCDC, the @ncdalliance, and the Governments of Guatemala and Sri Lanka hosted a side event to discuss childhood cancer in the global NCD agenda.

@UNICEF Director of Health @HFogstad spoke on the need for cancer survivorship to be approached through a life-course lens in addition to integrated, child-centred systems that connect health, education and social services around the needs of children and families.

[Rajat Khosla @khosla_rajat]

Nearly 1 million adolescents die every year from preventable causes. Mental health is the leading burden for 10–19 year olds. And yet they remain the most underfunded group in global health.

We convened #LivesInTheBalance at #WHA79 today to demand better. @PMNCH @HelenClarkNZ

[Helga Fogstad @HFogstad]

It was great meeting with Minister Alnazarova - @Kazakhstan Thank you for your leadership and passion for #PHC! @UNICEFhealth stands ready to support the vision of making PHC a reality to Health for All!!! Now, onwards and upwards- we have much to do!🌷#WHA79 @unicefkaz

[Kazakhstan🇰🇿 Mission in Geneva @KazakhPM_UNOG]

Minister Akmaral Alnazarova met with UNICEF Director of Health Programmes @HFogstad on the margins of #WHA79 to discuss strengthening early childhood development & early intervention systems in Kazakhstan, including PHC-based services, screening & support for children & families.

[UNICEF Health @UNICEFhealth]

Globally, more than 1 in 7 adolescents aged 10–19 are estimated to live with a mental health condition.

At #WHA79, @UNICEF Director of Health @HFogstad joined @UnitedGMH, @UNHumanRights and partners to discuss the urgent need for a human rights approach to mental health care.

Through strong accountability, sustained financing , and meaningful child and youth participation in shaping laws, policies, service design, and monitoring, we can advance the mental health and well-being of every child, everywhere.

[Helga Fogstad @HFogstad]

I thank H.E. Dr Ibrahima Sy for the engaging discussion on child survival, community health, immunization, and sustainable health financing. @UNICEF congratulates Senegal for achieving significant progress #ForEveryChild and stands committed to advancing our shared goals. #WHA79

[Helga Fogstad @HFogstad]

At #WHA79, I met with Minister Pierre N'gou Dimba to discuss health systems strengthening, community health, digital health objectives, and immunization. We commend Cote D’Ivoire for their strong commitment to advance child health and well-being.

[Helga Fogstad @HFogstad]

At #WHA79, @UNICEF & @StJude, with support from @WHO, convened a High-Level Roundtable to discuss the proposed Global Initiative on Sickle Cell Disease. Together in partnership, we can ensure that every child affected by #SickleCellDisease has the chance to survive and thrive.

[Helga Fogstad @HFogstad]

Great meeting with Dr. Joseph Haddad and Dr. Naveen Thacker at #WHA79. @UNICEF thanks @IPAWorldorg for their dedicated partnership to advance progress for every woman, every newborn, everywhere. We look forward to continued collaboration #ForEveryChild.

[International Pediatric Association @IPAWorldorg]

@haddadjosephs and @naveenthacker with @unicef team during WHA79 in Geneva.

#WHA79 #unicef #ipaupdates #everychildeveryageeverywhere #globalhealth