Samy Ahmar

Samy Ahmar

Samy Ahmar is head of global health at Save the Children. He and his team work with governments, multilateral organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector to design and evaluate impactful and sustainable health programs, carry out rigorous research, and use findings to advocate for equitable access to health services and health rights. He has dedicated the last 10 years to shifting both discourse and policy on major global health issues that affect children, including childhood pneumonia and diarrhea, improved care for premature and low birth-weight babies, immunization, community health systems, and the global health architecture.

Latest Articles

Opinion: The EU is an aid superpower. It just doesn’t know it yet

Opinion: The EU is an aid superpower. It just doesn’t know it yet

6 months ago // European Union

U.S. aid cuts and withdrawal from WHO are a terrible blow for global health, but also an opportunity for the European Union to step up as a superpower: Together, EU member states spend nearly twice as much as America on ODA.

Opinion: 2-in-1 — how to end child deaths from diarrhea

Opinion: 2-in-1 — how to end child deaths from diarrhea

over 3 years ago // Global health

A cheap, easy to use and effective treatment for diarrhea exists, but coverage is stuck at woefully low levels in low- and middle-income countries. A simple solution? Co-package two basic medicines and harness the power of market shaping.

Opinion: With COVID-19, we must learn from the fight against Ebola

Opinion: With COVID-19, we must learn from the fight against Ebola

over 5 years ago // COVID-19

Save the Children UK's Samy Ahmar reflects on how Congo handled the deadly Ebola epidemic and highlights examples that may be useful for the COVID-19 response.

Opinion: The Global Fund needs to broaden its mandate

Opinion: The Global Fund needs to broaden its mandate

about 6 years ago // The Global Fund

The Global Fund is the single largest funding mechanism in global health. Save the Children's Samy Ahmar explains why the organization should move beyond HIV, malaria, and TB to focus on health systems strengthening.