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.

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.

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.