The Frontline Health Workers Coalition is a group of U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations and healthcare corporations that advocates for using U.S. foreign aid resources to train and equip health care workers in developing nations.

The coalition argues that training foreign health care workers would increase global health security and assist in containing infectious diseases such as Ebola and Zika virus. ¹

The organization is also a supporter of the World Health Organization’s call for every country in the world enact universal health coverage. ²

Overview

Frontline Health Workers Coalition was launched in January 2012 with the goal of adding one million new health care workers in developing countries. The coalition advocates for the United States government to fund the hiring of 250,000 of those new workers through increased foreign aid spending. ³

At the time the coalition was launched, it had 16 member organizations. The organization’s first chair was Mary Beth Powers, who at the time also worked for Save The Children’s Newborn and Child Survival Campaign. ⁴

The coalition’s argues that training additional health care workers would make it easier to contain infectious diseases such as Ebola and Zika virus, decrease infant and maternal mortality through the increased use of skilled birth attendants, and expand the capacity of developing nations’ health care systems to treat other diseases. ⁵

Membership

As of May 2022, Frontline Health Workers Coalition has 36 members. The members are mostly United States-based nongovernmental agencies and health care corporations. Many of the members either receive contracts and grants from the United States and other governments or are left-leaning grantmaking organizations. The members include Abt Associates, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, CARE, FHI 360, Global Health Council, Johnson & Johnson, Living Goods, Partners in Health, Pathfinder International, and World Vision. ⁶

Leadership

Frontline Health Workers Coalition is led by a steering committee. As of May 2022, the members of the steering committee and the organizations they represent are Katie Lapides Coester of Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Rachel Deussom of Chemonics International, Patricia Egessa of Seed Global Health, Kate Greene of Abt Associates, Crystal Lander of Pathfinder International, Mary Laurie of Save the Children US, and Chunmei Li of Johnson & Johnson. ⁷

1. “Our Mission & Vision.”  Frontline Health Workers Coalition. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://www.frontlinehealthworkers.org/our-mission-vision.
2. “Our Mission & Vision.”  Frontline Health Workers Coalition. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://www.frontlinehealthworkers.org/our-mission-vision.
3. DeCapua, Joe. ”New Coalition Promotes Investment In Health Workers.” Voice of America. Jan. 10, 2012. https://www.voanews.com/a/decapua-health-workers-coalition-11jan12-137080173/159425.html.
4. DeCapua, Joe. ”New Coalition Promotes Investment In Health Workers.” Voice of America. Jan. 10, 2012. https://www.voanews.com/a/decapua-health-workers-coalition-11jan12-137080173/159425.html.
5. “Our Mission & Vision.”  Frontline Health Workers Coalition. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://www.frontlinehealthworkers.org/our-mission-vision.
6. “Our Members.” Frontline Health Workers Coalition. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://www.frontlinehealthworkers.org/our-members.
7. “Our Members.” Frontline Health Workers Coalition. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://www.frontlinehealthworkers.org/our-members.