Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, urged Member States to remain focused on shared objectives, even in the midst of global instability.
“”We are here not to serve our own interests, but the eight billion people in our world“, He said in his speech to open at the palaces of the nations.” Leave an inheritance for those who come after us; For our children and grandchildren; And work together for a healthier, more peaceful and fair world. It is possible.
The Assembly, which is the highest decision -making organization, crosses on May 27 and brings together delegations from 194 Member States under the theme One World for Health.
This agenda of this year includes a vote on the intensely negotiated pandemic agreement, a reduced budget proposal and discussion on climate, conflicts, antimicrobial resistance and digital health.
Pandemic prevention focus
A central element on the agenda of the Assembly is the agreement of the pandemic that proposed, a global compact aimed at preventing the type of fragmented response which marked the first stages of COVVI-19.
The Treaty is the result of three years of negotiations between all WHO member states.
“It’s really a historic moment,” said Dr. Tedros. “”Even in the middle of the crisis, and faced with an important opposition, you worked tirelessly, you have never abandoned and you have achieved your goal. “”
A final vote on the agreement is expected on Tuesday.
If it is adopted, it would only mark the second time that the countries meet to approve a legally binding global health treaty under the founding rules of the WHO. The first was the tobacco control framework convention, adopted in 2003 to limit the global tobacco epidemic.
2024 Health Check
In his speech, Tedros presented the protruding facts of the WHO results report in 2024, noting both the persistent global progress and gaps.
On tobacco control, he cited a A global reduction of a third of the prevalence of smoking since the WHO Cadre Convention has entered into force two decades ago.
He congratulated countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Oman and Viet Nam for introducing stronger regulations last year, including simple packaging and restrictions on electronic cigarettes.
On nutrition, he highlighted the new WHO directives on the waste and expansion of the tobacco -free farms initiative in Africa, which supported thousands of farmers in the transition to food crops.
He also pointed out, who has growing growth in air pollution and climate -resilient health systems, including partnerships with GAVI and UNICEF to install solar energy in health establishments in several countries.
With regard to maternal and child health, Tedros has noted progress in standard and has described new national acceleration plans to reduce the mortality of the newborn. Immunization coverage now reaches 83% of children worldwide, compared to less than 5% when the extended immunization program was launched in 1974.
“”We live in a golden age of eliminating the disease“, He said, citing the certification of Cabo Verde, Egypt and Georgia as without malaria; progress in neglected tropical diseases; And the recognition of Botswana as the first country to reach the status of gold level to eliminate the transmission of the HIV mother.
Which supported universal health coverage in Rwanda.
Budgetary
Turning to WHO’s internal operations, Tedros offered a striking assessment of the organization’s finances.
“”We are faced with a salary for the next biennial of more than $ 500 million US dollars, ” He said. “A reduced workforce means a reduced work extent.”
This week, the Member States will vote on a proposed increase of 20% of the contributions evaluated, as well as a reduced program budget of $ 4.2 billion for 2026-2027, down from a previous proposal of $ 5.3 billion. The cuts reflect an effort to align that works with the current financing levels while preserving the basic functions.
Tedros has recognized that long -standing dependence on the voluntary funding of a small group of donors had left it vulnerable. He urged Member States to see the budget deficit not only as a crisis but also as a potential turning point.
“Either we have to reduce our ambitions for what is and done, or we have to collect funds,” he said. “I know what I will choose.”
He attracted a contrast between the WHO budget and the global expenditure priorities: “2.1 billion US dollars are the equivalent of world military spending every eight hours; 2.1 billion US dollars are the price of a stealthy bomber – to kill people; 2.1 billion US dollars is a quarter of what the tobacco industry spends. ”.
“”It seems that someone has changed the price labels of what is really precious in our world“He said.
Emergencies and calls
The director general also detailed emergency operations in 2024, which lasted 89 countries. These included answers to epidemics of cholera, ebola, mpox and polio, as well as humanitarian interventions in areas of conflict such as Sudan, Ukraine and Gaza.
In Gaza, he said, which has supported more than 7,300 medical evacuations since the end of 2023, but more than 10,000 patients remained in an urgent need for care.
In the front: one who transformed?
The WHO chief closed with a look at the agency’s future direction, shaped by the lessons of the Cavid-19 pandemic. He underlined new initiatives in terms of pandemic intelligence, the development of vaccines and digital health, in particular expanded work on artificial intelligence and support for the transfer of mRNA technology in 15 countries.
Which has also restructured its head office, reducing management layers and rationalizes services.
“”Our current crisis is an opportunity“Concluded Dr. Tedros.” Together we will. »»
