The United Nations Office at Geneva
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UN Secretary General message to WHO World Health Assembly
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Teleprompter
Excellencies, dear colleagues, I send warm greetings to the 79th World Health Assembly.
This annual gathering is a vital opportunity for Member States to align and accelerate efforts to address global health challenges, challenges that have rarely felt more daunting over the past year.
Cuts to bilateral and multilateral aid have disrupted health systems and widened inequalities.
Clinics have closed.
Health workers have lost their jobs.
Prevention, surveillance and care have been weakened.
Lives have been cut short.
Meanwhile, the World Organisation has reprioritized and recalibrated while continuing to deliver for Member States, preserving core functions while providing technical leadership, operational support and the trusted convening space.
The living urgent health support within multiplying humanitarian emergencies and looking to health challenges on the horizon.
From the need to expand universal health coverage to the effects of climate change on people's health, to your discussions on pandemic preparedness, including the pathogen excess and benefit sharing Annex.
WHO stands at the centre of our global health architecture.
It must be strong and independent with ample and sustainable financing.
The Assemblies work is critical for global health security and the promise of health for all today and tomorrow.
I thank all Member States for your leadership, commitment and partnership for healthier, safer and fairer worlds, and I wish you a very successful World Health Assembly.