Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda held a bilateral meeting with Helen Clark, Board Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva.

The meeting affirmed India’s commitment to advancing the global agenda for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health.

During the meeting, the Minister highlighted India’s long-standing association with PMNCH since its inception in 2005 and reiterated the country’s continued support for the organization’s objectives.

He noted that India currently serves as Vice Chair of the PMNCH Board and Chair of its Standing Committee, underlining the country’s active leadership role in global health governance.

 Nadda also informed that India’s annual grant contribution of USD 2 million in perpetuity is under process and would be shared soon.

“India has been the bed of innovation and delivering interventions at scale with equity and accessibility. We have kept the health of women, children and adolescents at the heart of our service delivery and sustainable development,” the Minister said.

Highlighting India’s initiatives for adolescent health, Nadda noted that India was among the first countries to launch a dedicated national programme for adolescents in 2014, with outreach through facility-based, school-based and community-based interventions across the country.

Reaffirming India’s commitment as PMNCH Vice Chair, the Minister conveyed support for key priorities including Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (WCAH) and the rising burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). He also noted that India has developed substantial technical resources and digital public health goods that can be shared for wider global benefit.

Helen Clark appreciated India’s continued leadership and contributions to global public health, acknowledging the country’s important role within PMNCH and the broader global health ecosystem.