Washington, DC / Geneva, Switzerland, 18 May, 2018 (PAHO/WHO) - On 21-26 May, Ministries of Health from the Americas will participate in the 71st World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. The Assembly will bring together delegations from the 194 Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO).
During the Assembly, a range of issues will be discussed including, WHO's work-plan for the next five years. This plan will ultimately seek to save 29 million lives by 2023 through a series of strategic actions designed to support countries in achieving the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The World Health Assembly will also discuss WHO's role in health emergencies, polio, physical activity, vaccines, the global snakebite burden and rheumatic heart disease, among other issues.
The Americas region will participate in the Assembly through their country delegations as well as a delegation from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the regional office of WHO in the Americas, led by the Director, Carissa F. Etienne.
The World Health Assembly is the supreme decision-making body of WHO. Its main functions are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint a Director General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed program budget.
"This is a pivotal health Assembly. On the occasion of WHO's 70th anniversary, we are celebrating 7 decades of public health progress that have added 25 years to global life expectancy, saved millions of children's lives, and made huge inroads into eradicating deadly diseases such as smallpox and, soon, polio," said WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who will participate in his first Assembly following his election last year.
Next week's Health Assembly will open against the backdrop of a new outbreak of Ebola in central Africa, a stark reminder that global health risks can erupt at any time and that fragile health systems in any country pose a risk for the rest of the world.
This year, ministries and global health authorities are also invited to speak at the plenary on "Health for all: The commitment to universal health coverage". At least 20 delegations from the Americas will take part in the general debate.
The delegations will receive technical briefings on primary health care as a key element of achieving universal health coverage; climate change and the environment; the role of parliamentarians in achieving universal health coverage; and global health security.
In parallel to the Assembly, delegations from the Americas will also be promoting a variety of events relating to universal health, noncommunicable diseases, tuberculosis, organ transplant, antimicrobial resistance, and access to medicines, among other topics.
Walk event and the PAHO stand
On 20 May, prior to the start of the World Health Assembly, WHO is staging a walk in Geneva, as well as several other events to promote the importance of physical activity. Ministries and delegations from the Americas plan to participate in this activity.
PAHO will host a stand at the walk, which will be set up in front of the Palace of Nations where the Assembly will take place the next day. Information about the Organization's work in the region, particularly relating to universal health coverage, will be available at this stand. PAHO will also host a stand, and several temporary exhibitions, at the Palace of Nations throughout the Assembly.
Links
- PAHO/World Health Assembly
- WHO/World Health Assembly
