NEWS & PRESS RELEASES

Berlin, November 20, 2023 – The State Office for Health and Social Affairs (LAGeSo) and the Virchow Foundation for Global Health sign a partnership agreement to increase cooperation in the field of health promotion in Berlin and to further strengthen the capital as an international hub for health innovation.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishes the foundation for close collaboration focusing on various key areas of global health and placing greater emphasis on achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. In close cooperation with other important partner organisations in Berlin, the partnership with the State Office for Health and Social Affairs enables the non-profit foundation Virchow Foundation to continuously develop Berlin partnerships and bundle activities towards “Health for All”.

LAGeSo President Alexander Straßmeir emphasizes: “We are pleased to collaborate closely with the Virchow Foundation on global health issues that are of great relevance to the state of Berlin. Regarding the urgent issue of heat protection, we have successfully conducted a media campaign for the state of Berlin this year. In the surveillance and epidemiology of infectious diseases, LAGeSo consistently supports as a competent expert entity broadly in the interest of public health protection. The strengthened partnership with the Virchow Foundation now connects two important players in the healthcare sector of Berlin.”

“We are delighted to work closely with the State Office for Health and Social Affairs to continuously increase the awareness for health-related topics, in the spirit of Rudolf Virchow”, stated Professor Detlev Ganten, Co-Founder of the Virchow Foundation for Global Health. “This cooperation will allow us to work together to drive innovative projects with a positive and sustainable impact on the health of communities in Berlin and beyond.”

About the State Office for Health and Social Affairs

The State Office for Health and Social Affairs (LAGeSo) is the Berlin competence center in the fields of healthcare, social affairs, consumer protection. Many citizens have already been in contact with the LAGeSo and have thus benefited from the diverse services. Currently, up to 20% of Berlin residents receive services from the social or health care sector of the office. LAGeSo has successfully faced the special challenges during the pandemic in the interest of public health protection and has gained a strong profile in the public as an expert state authority. Due to its broad and steadily growing responsibilities, LAGeSo holds a prominent position in the state of Berlin as a professional point of contact and citizen-oriented service authority. Further information: berlin.de/lageso/

About the Virchow Foundation and the Virchow Prize for Global Health

The Virchow Foundation for Global Health was established in 2021 with the support of the Presidents of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities as well as Members of the German Parliament to contribute to the improvement of health worldwide. This purpose is achieved through the joint commitment of highly respected individuals, currently 45 international experts who serve in the Foundation’s committees on an honorary basis. Closely aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the Virchow Foundation for Global Health raises awareness of global health issues among the public. In this context the Virchow Prize for Global Health, annually awarded on the eve of the beginning of the World Health Summit (WHS) in the Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus), recognises outstanding lifetime achievements or innovations that have significantly contributed to improving global health and achieving “Good Health and Well-Being for All”. Further information on foundation and the prize: virchowprize.org/foundation/