#Switzerland #Geneva #WHO Foundation #Laerdal Global Health #Acute Care

Transforming Lives: WHO Foundation and Laerdal Global Health's New Initiative

In an ambitious pledge that shakes the foundations of global healthcare, the WHO Foundation and Laerdal Global Health have recently announced a monumental partnership aimed at enhancing acute care in Africa. This collaboration comes with a significant commitment of $12.5 million, which is set to provide critical training and resources to healthcare workers across various African nations.

The Background of the Initiative

On May 20, 2025, during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, key figures such as Tore Laerdal, founder of Laerdal Global Health, and Thomas Zeltner, chair of the WHO Foundation, unveiled their strategy to address the substantial healthcare challenges faced by low- and middle-income countries. With the understanding that effective emergency care could potentially prevent over half of the deaths occurring in these regions, the launch of this initiative is both timely and essential.

The funds allocated will specifically support the training of healthcare workers in 400 hospitals across three targeted African countries. This training will be complemented by the provision of specialized training kits to ensure continuous professional development directly on-site within these hospitals.

The Broader Impact of Acute Care Training

The implications of the Basic Emergency Care (BEC) program are profound. Developed with the collaboration of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation for Emergency Medicine in 2016, the program has already proven successful in training tens of thousands of health agents in over 60 countries. Prior studies in first-level hospitals in regions such as Africa and Asia have demonstrated a remarkable reduction in mortality rates from acute conditions—by as much as 50%—following the implementation of BEC training.

According to Laerdal, “We know that the Basic Emergency Care program can reduce mortality due to various acute conditions by as much as 50%.” This assertion is backed by substantial evidence regarding conditions like pneumonia, road traffic injuries, diabetic crises, and postpartum hemorrhage—all of which see measurable improvements through this training.

As highlighted by Bruce Aylward, the assistant director-general of WHO, “Strengthening healthcare systems and assisting healthcare professionals in delivering effective acute care is vital for universal health coverage and global health security.” The urgency of scaling up basic emergency care, particularly in resource-limited contexts, is clearer now than ever.

Collaborative Efforts and Future Goals

In a bid to expand the reach of this program, the WHO Foundation and Laerdal Global Health have established a consortium known as Lifeline: The Action Fund for Acute Care. This platform is already engaged in discussions with additional public and private partners to achieve a total funding goal of $25 million. This increase would enable the initiative to broaden its efforts, extending the program to 1,000 hospitals across five or more countries, with the objective of saving another 50,000 lives annually.

Zeltner emphasizes the significant role this funding will play at a time when global health financing is under severe threat. He calls on other stakeholders to join Lifeline in this critical mission, reaching out particularly to those in humanitarian contexts that stand to benefit greatly from enhanced emergency care initiatives.

About the Organizations

Laerdal Global Health operates as a nonprofit organization with a mission centered around saving lives in resource-poor settings. By developing practical and adaptable solutions for healthcare training and clinical support, they are on a quest to improve outcomes for mothers, newborns, and those afflicted with trauma and critical illnesses. Collaborating closely with local and global partners, Laerdal is focused on equipping frontline health providers with the necessary tools, skills, and confidence.

In contrast, the WHO Foundation aims to mobilize philanthropic capital to tackle urgent health challenges worldwide, particularly for vulnerable populations. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, its mission aligns closely with that of WHO in ensuring that essential health services are universally accessible.

Through this groundbreaking partnership, the hope is that acute care can fundamentally transform healthcare landscapes, delivering crucial care where it’s needed most, and ultimately leading toward a healthier, safer world for all.