The Global Health Advocacy Incubator uses systematic advocacy to help governments fund healthcare—reaching 4 billion people across 32 countries. From maternal health to epidemic prep, here's how policy programs are changing the game. Learn more: https://www.advocacyincubator.org/program-areas/health-systems-strengthening
You know how most health organizations are out here chasing donor funding, building clinics, trying to patch things together one grant at a time?
Yeah—the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, or GHAI, didn't do that.
Instead, they built a system. A policy advocacy system. One that convinced multiple governments to put real money into health care for their own people.
So how exactly did they do it? They created a set of advocacy approaches that local civil society groups, government agencies, and even the media could use to push for change. Not one-off changes. We're talking laws, funding, and long-term national programs that reach entire populations. All focused on primary care.
And GHAI zeroed in on five major areas where policy could have the biggest impact: Immunization, maternal and reproductive health, epidemic preparedness, health data systems, and primary health care.
Let's break that down with some real-life wins.
In India, GHAI's advocacy helped the government commit to treating 75 million people with high blood pressure and diabetes—by this year, 2025. Their initiatives are now baked into the country's official chronic disease program.
Over in Bangladesh, they helped get life-saving hypertension medicine stocked in rural clinics. Before that? Patients had to travel hours just to get their meds—and miss work doing it. Now, care is right there in their communities.
And in Tanzania, when donors pulled out of maternal health programs, GHAI didn't panic—they partnered with local advocates and helped secure government funding instead. That means more doctors, more nurses, and more moms surviving childbirth. Period.
Here's the thing: GHAI doesn’t just show up with a binder of ideas. They stay. They coach. They guide. They work side-by-side with partners to get policies passed and funding locked in.
Okay, so what do these 5 focus areas actually look like in practice?
Immunization: GHAI helps countries fund vaccines on their own, so they don't have to rely on external aid. Their work is supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Epidemic Preparedness: In partnership with Resolve to Save Lives, GHAI builds political will for better emergency response systems across Africa.
Health Data Systems: With Bloomberg's Data for Health Initiative, they help countries improve civil registration and vital stats. That means governments can use actual data—not guesswork—to plan health programs.
Maternal and Reproductive Health: They work with governments to fund reproductive services themselves, especially in places where donor support is fading.
And chronic disease? That's the silent killer. Heart disease, diabetes—GHAI makes sure those aren't left behind in primary healthcare strategies.
So yeah—this approach changes the game. Because 82 percent of premature deaths from chronic diseases happen in low- and middle-income countries. And most of those could be prevented if the right policies and funding were in place. Which is exactly what GHAI is working on.
So who is GHAI? The Global Health Advocacy Incubator has spent the last decade helping countries pass or strengthen over 140 public health policies. They've worked across 32 countries, reaching more than 4 billion people.
Seriously—this is what real impact looks like. Want to know more about how their model works? Just click on the link in the description. Global Health Advocacy Incubator City: Washington Address: 1400 I Street Northwest Website: https://www.advocacyincubator.org/