Your excellencies,
H.E. Mr S. Chinzorig, Minister of Health
Members of the Parliament
Mr T. Munkhsaikhan, Advisor to the President
Members of the Diplomatic Corp
Mr Tapan Mishra, UN Resident Coordinator in Mongolia
Esteemed Heads of the United Nations Agencies
Development partners
Heads of government agencies,
Colleagues in public health,
Ladies and gentlemen
We are very honoured by your presence tonight.
We sincerely thank the government of Mongolia and Minister Chinzorig for kindly supporting this very important milestone for the World Health Organization.
WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said “The history of WHO demonstrates what is possible when nations come together for a common purpose.”
This encapsulates why we are all here today – to celebrate, how by working together, the world has overcome some of the most difficult challenges in health.
Every celebration reminds us of the resilience and fortitude that we have gained in the recent past and at the same time, bids us the daunting task ahead, but also the promise of a brighter, healthier and safer future.
For WHO, this is a day for gratitude.
It’s one fitting moment to thank you all for the support and collaboration over so many years, that have enabled us to work towards the fulfilment of the highest attainable standard of health for everyone.
We thank the government of Mongolia for giving WHO the opportunity to work hand in hand to achieve the vision of health for all and for guiding the work of WHO in the country.
The last 75 years of WHO is a testament to the unflinching commitment of nations to better health. While all my colleagues around the world are at this same time thanking their host Member States, WHO in Mongolia would also like to thank all the diplomatic community and the international development partners, who through the support of your countries has enabled WHO to work and deliver its mandate, in every part of the world, including here in Mongolia. We are able to do our work because of your continuing support.
On this day, we also pay tribute once again, to all the health workers and the so many others for the heroism and self-less dedication to serve . Again, quoting Dr Tedros, “There is no greater call than serving humanity.”
The next 75 years of WHO will begin the day after tomorrow. And it will require us a new resolve to work harder – to address our most lingering challenges with new ideas, innovation and determination.
On my first week as head of WHO Office in Mongolia, I took the opportunity to go back to the basic agreement between the government and WHO signed in July 1963. The agreement covers broadly technical assistance in health but in addition, there were three programmes that were distinctly mentioned- environmental health; strengthening capacity for epidemiology and expanding nursing education to meet the growing health needs of the country.
These priorities resonate even today, but in a much more complex way, as these issues have increasingly been intertwined with the process of development, climate change, and the constant threat to health security that could undermine social and economic development.
Since that basic agreement was signed more than 60 years ago, our cooperation has evolved according to the needs of the country – but it does remind us that health is a continuing work of every generation for the future generation.
The beginning of the next 75 years of WHO comes after the most difficult years of COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has shown us the vulnerabilities of our systems, but it has also affirmed that health remains to be our greatest hope for equitable development. This is our strongest inspiration to continue to work hand in hand with you all to support the government achieve goals of the Vision 2050, the Healthy Mongolian Initiative and the sustainable development goals.
As we begin the next 75 years of WHO, we look forward to your continued support and enduring partnership to promote health, make the world safe, serve the vulnerable and achieve Health for All in Mongolia.
Once again, on behalf of WHO, we would like to express our deep gratitude for the honour of your presence tonight.