Foreign
By Kennedy Nnamani
THE World Health Organisation, WHO, has announced the theme for its 75th World Health Assembly, WHA, scheduled to hold at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from May 22 to 28, 2022.
A statement released on Tuesday by the Organisation disclosed that the Assembly will focus on the theme “Health for Peace, Peace for Health” based on the current threat facing the planet, ranging from conflicts, inequities, climate crisis and pandemics.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, underscored the importance of building a healthy and peaceful planet by harnessing science, data, technology and innovation.
According to him, the pandemic has undermined progress towards the health-related targets in Sustainable Development Goals and laid bare inequities within and between countries.
While speaking on the choice for the theme, Dr Ghebreyesus noted that “sustained recovery will require more than ‘getting back on track’ and reinvesting in existing services and systems. We need a new approach, which means shifting priorities and focusing on the highest-impact interventions.”
The 2022 WHA, which will also see the appointment of the next WHO Director-General, will kick off with a high-level segment with speeches from the elected Health Assembly President, Heads of State, special guests, an address by the WHO Director-General and the presentation of the Director-General’s Health Awards.
The assembly, which expects delegates from all WHO 194 Member States, will also focus on global strategies on food safety, oral health, and tuberculosis research and innovation.
Other topics include intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders 2022-2031, prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, poliomyelitis, the Global Health for Peace Initiative among others.
The Health Assembly is WHO’s highest decision-making body saddled with the responsibility of setting out the organization’s policy and approving its budget.
KN
Tags: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus WHO World Health Assembly
