Dr. Mélanie Samson takes on the role of Programme Lead, Women’s Health, and Dr. Jean Chamberlain becomes Clinical Lead, Maternal Health, as the Global Surgery Foundation’s safe caesarean section projects expand.

On 24 September 2026, BCIU, BD and the Global Surgery Foundation brought together stakeholders in New York, on the margins of UNGA81, to discuss how health systems can recognise and respond to maternal complications earlier.

The Global Surgery Foundation's Safe Caesarean Section projects in Nepal, Kenya and Nigeria are expanding from 19 to 31 health facilities. Ahead of two UN General Assembly events on maternal survival, here is what the model has changed so far. 

The Business Council for International Understanding will host Advancing Maternal Safety during Childbirth: Improving Recognition, Response and Care in New York on 24 September, in partnership with Becton Dickinson and Company and the Global Surgery Foundation.

Join the American College of Surgeons (ACS) International Relations Committee for an upcoming webinar focusing on Neurotrauma Care in Low-Resource Settings.

With a record wave of new commitments to SURGfund, the catalytic model for surgical care is moving from proof of concept towards scale — and the results are already saving lives.

Navigate the busy week of the 2026 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) with ease. The Global Surgery Foundation’s comprehensive 2026 Side Events Calendar is your central hub to discover high-impact panels, coordinate your schedule, and submit your own events taking place in Geneva and online.

GSF welcomes Ms. Stella Itungu, CEO of COSECSA, as Chair of its High-Level Council, bringing decades of leadership in regional health sector development to help guide the Foundation’s strategic initiatives and amplify frontline voices.

We are mourning the loss of a visionary leader, steadfast supporter, and friend.

The Global Surgery Foundation (GSF) is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Nikhil Seth to its Foundation Board. A distinguished leader in international development and a pivotal figure in the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mr. Seth brings decades of high-level expertise to the mission of ensuring safe surgical care for all.

On 18 May 2026, the Global Surgery Foundation returned to the World Health Assembly with What's Next for Philanthropy: Investing in Local Leaders for Impact, a WHA79 side-event at the Hôtel InterContinental in Geneva and online. Watch the recording and download the report.

At the upcoming Clinton Global Initiative 2025 Meeting in New York, the Global Surgery Foundation will announce a new Commitment to Action focused on expanding access to safe caesarean section and maternal surgical care in low-resource settings. This builds on a recently launched SURGfund-supported project in Kenya, aiming to reach over 25,000 mothers and newborns each year.

Surgery saves lives—but for billions, it’s still out of reach. At this year’s World Health Assembly, that reality took centre stage. With new catalytic investments into SURGfund, the days of treating surgical care as a side note in global health are over. It’s now a frontline strategy to strengthen systems, save lives, and deliver on the promise of universal health coverage.

As the global health community prepares for the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in 2025, the Global Surgery Foundation (GSF) is curating a comprehensive and up-to-date list of WHA78 side events. 

On 19 May 2025, the Global Surgery Foundation brought global leaders together at the Hôtel InterContinental in Geneva and online for its WHA78 side-event, Accelerating Catalytic Financing in a New Era, where donors announced new commitments to SURGfund. Watch the recording and download the report.

The GSF’s Women’s Health team shared updates from projects aimed at improving access to surgical care for breast cancer patients in Rwanda and Türkiye.

Navigating the Global Surgery Ecosystem, the educational series from the Global Surgery Foundation and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), is now available as a free course on SURGhub. Learn at your own pace with recorded sessions and curated readings, and earn a UNITAR Certificate of Completion.

EBRS, UNITAR, CAGS, and the Global Surgery Foundation hosted a special online event entitled “Quality Improvement Interventions to Reduce Anastomotic Leaks.”, on 3 December 2024 at 16:00 CET/ 10:00 AM EDT/ 07:00 AM PDT.

The GSF side-event at WHA77 convened a diverse array of global health leaders, representing UN member states, United Nations bodies, philanthropy, academia, civil society, and industry. The event report is now available.

The special WHA77 GSF side-event took place on 27 May 2024 at the Hôtel InterContinental.