Finally in Mexico as a Global Media Scholar

I was super excited when I was informed by the Global Health Strategies that I had been chosen as one of the 10 Global Media Scholars that would be attending the Global Maternal and Newborn Health Conference in New Mexico city, Mexico. As a health journalist, am passionate about the health of women and children, I knew this was a great opportunity to hear about new policies and reports on this very dear topic.

Global Media Scholars after a round table with Melinda Gates  at the GMNCH conference  at the Hilton Reforma in New Mexico city
 

 I had to secure two visas in a week with little or no tangible information. I travelled for 28 hours, was in transit for another 7 hours, I almost collapsed on the flight from Frankfurt to Mexico, the jet lag was crazy but thanks to God I got to Mexico safely.

 The action has started as over 1,000 policymakers, researchers, practitioners and advocates from 75 countries gathered in Mexico City for the first Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference. The meeting marks the first opportunity for the maternal and newborn health communities to strategise actions needed to achieve the targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health, which was launched at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

 Melinda Gates gave a powerful speech at the opening plenary which I will be sharing shortly. Our own Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin wowed me because he nailed the issues around teenage pregnancy, child marriage and women inequality in a way that had I never seen anyone do.

 Did I mention we had a one on one?I was almost starstruck. So here I am doing what I do very well. I am Bukola Adebayo, a 2015 Global Media Scholar. I thank my sponsors, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Global Health Strategies. Watch out for more updates on the #GMNCH  #GlobalMNH on this blog and social media.