17 October 2024
Doha, Qatar
Your Excellencies,
Media colleagues,
Distinguished visitors,
I wish to welcome you to this press convention.
We have now simply concluded the 71st session of the Regional Committee for the Jap Mediterranean, which was held from 14 to 17 October 2024, and hosted by the State of Qatar.
Earlier than I begin, I wish to thank Qatar for his or her beneficiant hospitality and glorious group.
I additionally thank their Excellencies the ministers of well being, heads of delegations and delegates for his or her dedication, knowledge and data. We have now loved exceptionally wealthy and productive discussions all through the previous 4 days.
The Regional Committee session was held towards the backdrop of emergencies that sadly have an effect on half of the international locations of the Area. We’re all acutely conscious that treasured lives are being misplaced each minute.
From the 12-month battle within the Gaza Strip to conflicts in Lebanon, Sudan and Yemen and extended crises in Afghanistan, Somalia and different international locations – our Area is going through unimaginable and unacceptable tragedy and struggling.
The theme of the session, “Well being Past Borders”, mirrored the sturdy dedication of all our Member States to work collectively to make sure that each single individual within the Area can get pleasure from their elementary human rights to life and well being – irrespective of their location, nationality, financial or social affiliation.
The Regional Committee is WHO’s predominant governing physique within the Jap Mediterranean. This annual session is a necessary alternative for leaders and policy-makers from Member States to hitch companion organizations and WHO consultants to contemplate key points.
Naturally, a lot of our time was spent discussing emergencies and different challenges, however we have been additionally in a position to have a good time quite a few successes in each nation, and throughout many various areas of public well being – from the great development of our regional Wholesome Cities programme to some world-beating achievements in tackling communicable illnesses equivalent to hepatitis C, leprosy and malaria.
Coming collectively for these annual periods is a good likelihood to share experiences, inspiration, concepts and greatest practices.
This was my first Regional Committee since I turned Regional Director in February.
I used to be happy to have the ability to current WHO’s main strategic plans for our work within the Area, together with a brand new regional strategic operational plan and three flagships initiatives.
The strategic operational plan will information our work with international locations for the following 4 years, whereas the flagship initiatives will assist to speed up progress in three essential areas: increasing entry to important medicines, vaccines and medical merchandise; investing to enhance the manufacturing, employment and retention of well being workforce within the Area; and stepping up public well being motion on substance use.
I’m delighted that Member States voiced their sturdy assist for these plans, and so they additionally supplied a lot smart recommendation and suggestions.
We additionally mentioned technical papers on 4 main well being points:
a brand new operational framework for addressing bodily trauma in humanitarian settings;
a brand new regional motion plan to boost psychological well being and psychosocial assist in emergencies;
motion to deal with the lethal menace of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within the Area; and
harnessing the facility of digital expertise to enhance to well being info techniques and well being care.
And we had a really full programme of different dialogue, briefings, facet occasions and particular occasions.
I encourage you to take a look at the paperwork on the Regional Committee web site. There’s a wealth of data there.
Our massive assembly has concluded efficiently, however our work is simply starting. I’m wanting ahead to pushing on with the technical agenda endorsed by the Committee.
So we are saying goodbye to our mates, colleagues and companions at present – however we might be in contact with them once more quickly, and we are going to work intently collectively to make our shared imaginative and prescient a actuality.
Thanks.
