At the Goalkeepers 2024: Recipe for Progress event, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation honoured key figures dedicated to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the fight against malnutrition amid a warming climate.
The annual gathering, held during the United Nations General Assembly week, featured a range of distinguished guests, including Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste, Christy Turlington Burns, founder of Every Mother Counts, and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation. Nigerian health minister Muhammad Ali Pate was also in attendance, with sessions moderated by Adriana Diaz from CBS Mornings Plus and Francine Lacqua of Bloomberg Television.
Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, emphasized the urgency of the mission, stating: “Goalkeepers brings together a community of global changemakers who champion the Sustainable Development Goals. This year, we’re focused on the more than 400 million children who aren’t receiving the nutrients they need to thrive. While climate change complicates this challenge, progress is achievable.”
Recent statistics from the World Health Organization reveal that 148 million children suffer from stunting, and 45 million experience wasting, both conditions detrimental to their development. The foundation’s latest report, titled “A Race to Nourish a Warming World,” warns that without immediate global action, an additional 40 million children could face stunting and 28 million could experience wasting by 2050. The report calls for renewed commitments to global health funding, including support for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund.
Among the highlights of the event was the presentation of the 2024 Global Goalkeeper Award to Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The award recognises Lula’s significant impact on poverty reduction through the Bolsa Familia programme, which has helped lower Brazil’s stunting rate from 37% to 7%. President Lula continues to advocate for the Global Alliance on Hunger and Poverty, a key initiative of Brazil’s G20 presidency, employing evidence-based strategies to enhance food security and health.
The event also honoured ten Goalkeepers Champions from around the globe, recognised for their exceptional contributions to nutrition and health:
- Dr. Tahmeed Ahmed (Bangladesh) leads efforts to tackle childhood malnutrition.
- Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi (Nigeria) focuses on training health workers to improve maternal and child nutrition.
- Beza Beshah Haile (Ethiopia) advocates for food fortification and support for families.
- Dr. Zahra Hoodbhoy (Pakistan) integrates AI tools into community health initiatives.
- Dr. Nancy Krebs (United States) influences global health policies through extensive research.
- Dr. Jemimah Njuki (Kenya) champions women’s empowerment in agriculture to enhance food security.
- Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana (Rwanda) prioritises maternal and child health interventions.
- Lilian dos Santos Rahal (Brazil) advocates against hunger and malnutrition.
- Bhavani Shankar (United Kingdom) researches sustainable food systems.
- Ratan Tata (India) leads efforts to improve food security through innovative nutrition initiatives.
The Goalkeepers 2024 event highlights the pressing need for collaborative action to combat malnutrition and improve global health, with African leaders playing pivotal roles in these transformative efforts. As the world confronts the challenges posed by climate change, the focus on innovative solutions and community engagement remains critical.