Good morning, good afternoon and good night,
Over the previous two weeks, well being leaders from all over the world gathered in Geneva for the annual World Well being Meeting.
There have been many important resolutions and selections taken on the huge array of points on which WHO works.
This contains behavioural sciences; finest buys for noncommunicable illnesses; diagnostics; disabilities; drowning prevention; emergency, vital and operative care; meals micronutrients; indigenous well being; an infection prevention and management; maternal and baby well being; medical oxygen; main well being care; refugee and migrant well being; rehabilitation; conventional medication, WHO’s work on emergencies; and rather more.
The approval of the funds for 2024-25, together with the 20% improve in assessed contributions, and help for an funding spherical, are landmark agreements in our shared efforts in the direction of a stronger, simpler and empowered WHO.
And the yr forward provides a number of alternatives to make additional progress.
Specifically, the high-level conferences in September on common well being protection, tuberculosis and pandemic preparedness and response on the UN Normal Meeting are main alternatives to catalyze political dedication.
Likewise, the persevering with negotiations on the pandemic accord and amendments to the Worldwide Well being Rules are an unprecedented alternative for us all to study from the successes and failures of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are a number of key factors price repeating to keep away from misconceptions.
First, this accord is a generational alternative that we should seize. We’re the technology that lived by means of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we have to be the technology that learns the teachings it taught us, and makes the modifications to maintain future generations safer.
Second, the 2 processes are negotiated by Member States for Member States, and can – if enacted – be carried out in Member States in accordance with their very own legal guidelines.
Third, all Member States will retain their very own sovereignty to set their very own home well being insurance policies.
The concept this accord or the amended Worldwide Well being Rules will cede sovereignty to WHO is solely bogus. WHO is not going to achieve any energy to override home coverage selections. Nor would we wish to.
I do know the journalists listening to this briefing are largely well being and science journalists who’ve a deeper understanding of well being and perceive how an accord might help bolster our collective pandemic defences.
So, I ask you to maintain following the details about these two processes, to dispel myths and to tell your colleagues on the information and editorial desks so there’s correct reporting.
These processes signify a critical dedication from all 194 WHO Member States in the direction of their populations, and we can’t let mis- and disinformation jeopardize them.
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Subsequent to some excellent news on the outbreaks of Marburg virus illness in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania.
Right now, Tanzania declared its outbreak over, 42 days after the final affected person examined detrimental for the second time.
The outbreak in Equatorial Guinea can also be anticipated to be declared over subsequent week, if no additional circumstances are detected.
WHO will proceed to help each international locations to strengthen their outbreak prevention and preparedness actions.
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Now to the larger Horn of Africa, which faces a deepening starvation and well being disaster.
The area contains 7 international locations – Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda – and is already within the midst of the worst drought on document.
Within the first half of this yr, heavy downpours on the baked earth have precipitated flash floods in components of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia and displaced hundreds of individuals.
Floods improve the danger of water and mosquito-borne illnesses in a area already impacted by malaria, cholera and different infectious illnesses.
53 million folks – 1 in 6 – are going through disaster ranges of starvation.
WHO and our companions are on the bottom, making certain entry to fundamental well being companies; offering therapy to severely malnourished youngsters; and serving to international locations detect, stop and reply to illness outbreaks.
However a scarcity of sources is hindering our response. Beneath our Well being Emergency Enchantment for 2023, WHO is asking for 178 million U.S. {dollars} to allow us to ship urgently wanted, life-saving medical help. We face vital funding gaps, and we urge donors to be beneficiant.
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In Sudan the scenario has been compounded by violence.
Preventing, which began on the fifteenth of April, is constant for a seventh week.
Persons are dying as a result of they’ll’t entry hospitals and obtain the care they should deal with accidents or the medicines they should deal with power illnesses, corresponding to diabetes or hypertension.
Girls can’t safely ship their infants and kids are dying of malnutrition and dehydration.
With the upcoming wet season, there’s an elevated threat of outbreaks of waterborne and mosquito-borne illnesses.
For the reason that starting of the battle over 1.6 million folks have been displaced, each internally and to neighbouring international locations.
WHO is working carefully with well being authorities in neighbouring international locations to supply care to refugees.
Well being employees, provides and services proceed to be focused.
For the reason that preventing began, WHO has verified 46 assaults on well being care main to eight deaths and 18 accidents. 16 of those assaults occurred after the signing of the Jeddah declaration to guard civilians on the eleventh of Might.
That is unacceptable.
Together with different humanitarian companies, WHO has labored to speed up the distribution of lifesaving medical provides.
Now we have despatched a complete of 170 metric tons of medical provides, together with for trauma and accidents, power and infectious illnesses by air, land and sea.
Nonetheless, restricted entry and insecurity proceed to hamper our efforts to get these provides to the place they can be utilized to save lots of lives.
We urge all events in Sudan to renew ceasefire negotiations, cease the preventing, withdraw from well being services, shield well being employees and help the supply of lifesaving provides.
Lastly, the 4th Well being for All Movie Competition can have its award ceremony on Tuesday, the sixth of June.
The Well being for All Movie Competition brings a human face to WHO’s scientific work. Listening to the voices of individuals affected by well being points is a strong option to increase consciousness and enhance our understanding of individuals’s experiences.
I congratulate upfront the winners and my because of the distinguished members of the jury.
The awards ceremony can be webcast on the WHO web site and we invite everybody to hitch.
Margaret, again to you.
