Key Takeaways from UNGA 80 That Can Transform Access to Care 

The 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) took place last week in New York. As always, the city’s busy streets grew even busier with visitors from around the world, all coming together to foster global collaboration. While important discussions happen inside the UN, meaningful conversations also take place in nearby venues, with side events, panels and special programming. 

Attendees rush from meeting to meeting, networking, advocating and raising awareness for global causes. Partnerships are formed, challenges are tackled, and hope becomes tangible through the voices of leaders and changemakers bringing ideas and solutions to the table. 

During this impactful week, Operation Smile participated in several events, including panels on global health equity, events on surgical care in low-resource communities and discussions on strengthening local health systems. 

UNGA is especially important to Operation Smile because expanding access to care requires partners, supportive policies and funding. UNGA provides a global stage to advocate for the 5 billion people who lack access to safe surgical care. It allows our team to share our mission with an audience that can help drive change in the communities we serve. It also offers a chance to learn from others and bring those lessons back to our teams, partners and communities. Here are a few key lessons from UNGA 80: 

1. Turn commitments into action.

UNGA reminded us that to make care truly accessible, commitments must be paired with action. Every effort counts in bringing care closer to the people who need it most. For example, our commitment to creating lasting impact came to life as we shared Operation 100 and its role in strengthening health systems and bringing care closer to home for the communities we serve.

2. Strong health systems create lasting impact. 

Sustainable health systems lead to healthier futures for generations.  “You can have facilities, but if you have no doctors or nurses or staff, then it’s just a space,” said Ruben Ayala, M.D., M.Sc., Operation Smile’s chief policy and advocacy officer, during a panel. Investing in training, infrastructure and partnerships ensures care is within reach for everyone.

3. Innovation drives progress.

Gaurav Deshpande, M.D.S., MBA, Operation Smile’s associate vice president of medical oversight and safety, shared during a session: “We have a big problem. Five billion people don’t have access to safe, affordable surgical care.” Solving these challenges requires creativity and innovation, not just in technology, but in how we work together and approach problems. New tools, training methods and collaborative approaches, including AI tools, are accelerating change in health care.

4. The world needs more health care providers.

We were reminded by Francoise Mukagaju, M.D., the first and only female plastic surgeon in Rwanda, that we need more health providers, both men and women. There’s a shortage of providers in the communities where we work, and access to training is essential to expand care in the countries where we serve. 

5. Everyone has a role to play.

“Surgery is a team effort,” said Opoku Ampomah, M.B., Ch.B., and the same is true for expanding access to care. Governments, local leaders, volunteers and patients all have a role to play. Collaboration multiplies impact, and together we can reach more children and families. 

UNGA 80 reminded us that while the challenges are big, solutions are within reach when we work together. At Operation Smile, we are inspired to keep strengthening health systems, equipping local providers and expanding care where it’s needed most. By turning commitments into action, working alongside communities and strengthening health systems, we can bring safe, high-quality surgical care closer to home — and build a brighter, healthier future for children everywhere.