Chair, Mr Blair Comley,
Excellencies, Members of the EB, dear colleagues and friends,
First, my congratulations to Secretary Comley on your election as Chair. I look forward to working with you over the next year. G’day mate.
I welcome the new members of the Executive Board: Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Haiti, Japan, Nepal, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Solomon Islands and Spain.
I look forward to working with you, and with all board members over the course of the next year.
As I said in my remarks at the closing yesterday, the word “historic” is overused, but it is exactly the right word to describe this year’s Assembly.
The adoption of the Pandemic Agreement was truly a landmark in the history of WHO and global health.
And the approval of the Programme Budget 2026-2027, including the increase in assessed contributions, is another major step towards WHO’s long-term financial security.
I also appreciate the support for the Secretariat’s realignment and prioritization process, and the clear direction from Member States.
As recommended by the PBAC and agreed by the Health Assembly, we will provide regular updates to Member States, initially on a monthly basis, on the implementation of the realignment, including a timeline with milestones;
The work of this Board will be absolutely vital in the coming year, during this period of transition for the Organization.
The discussion on governance reform at this meeting is especially important.
This year’s World Health Assembly illustrated the vast array of resolutions and decisions put forward for consideration.
Just as the Secretariat has worked to become more effective and efficient through the Transformation and the Member State-led governance reform, so we look to this Board and all Member States to make our governing bodies more effective and efficient.
At this year’s Health Assembly we saw several improvements.
With improved time management, reduction of evening sessions and many other smaller measures, we reduced the additional costs for the Health Assembly from 4.1 million U.S. dollars to 2.7 million dollars.
We also re-introduced official side events, which were well attended and appreciated.
At this meeting, you will discuss how to further strengthen governance reforms, notably on agenda and mandate management, resolution and decision management, time management, and management of the programmatic and financial implications of resolutions and decisions.
You will also discuss the proposed steps to adapt additional measures to further enhance transparency, accountability and integrity in nominating candidates for Regional Director.
We look forward to your leadership, Chair, and to that of this Board to drive forward this important work.
And we also look forward to your anticipated appointment of Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi as Regional Director for Africa.
Thank you all once again for your support for, and commitment to WHO, and to our shared vision of the highest attainable standard of health for all people, as a fundamental right.
I look forward to our discussion, and your guidance.
Chair, thank you and back to you.