Good morning, good afternoon and good evening.
Today, the nations of the world made history at the World Health Assembly.
After two years of negotiations, they adopted a strong package of amendments to the International Health Regulations, based on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The IHR was last updated 19 years ago. The amendments adopted today strengthen global preparedness, surveillance and response to public health emergencies, including pandemics.
And although the Pandemic Agreement has not yet been finalized, the Health Assembly has charted the way forward.
It has agreed to extend the mandate of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, to finalize negotiations on the Pandemic Agreement as soon as possible, and by next year’s World Health Assembly at the latest.
The success of the IHR amendments demonstrates that in our divided and divisive world, countries can still come together to find common cause, and common ground.
In addition to the IHR amendments, Member States also approved the Fourteenth General Programme of Work – the global health strategy for the next four years;
And we also launched the WHO Investment Round, which aims to mobilize the flexible and predictable funds needed to implement that strategy.
A number of countries have already pledged their support and have started contributing.
Member States also adopted resolutions on antimicrobial resistance; climate change and health; infection prevention and control; maternal, newborn and child health; mental health in emergencies; social participation in primary health care; transplantation, and more.
The theme of this year’s World Health Assembly was All for Health, and Health for All.
This week, WHO’s Member States have embodied that theme. They have worked together to find a shared approach to shared threats.
Of course, they don’t always agree. That is to be expected.
But they are united in their commitment to the vision they had when they created WHO 76 years ago: the highest attainable standard of health for all people, as a fundamental right.
Thank you.
