World Health Assembly approves  $ 11.1billion strategy for global health with emphasis on migration, climate change, others

Delegates at the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly (WHA 77) approved a four-year, US$ 11.1 billion strategy for global health to promote, provide, and protect health and well-being for all people, with an emphasis on climate change, aging, migration, pandemic threats, and equity, and adapted for a time of fast-moving geopolitics, science and technology, a report by the World Health Organisation has said.

The strategy, the Fourteenth General Programme of Work  (GPW 14), treats 2025–2028 as an exceptional window of opportunity to build resilient, fit-for-future health systems and, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, to get back on track to reach the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

GPW 14 has six strategic objectives which reflect major areas of focus for this four-year period: respond to the escalating threat to health posed by climate change address health determinants and root causes of ill health in key policies across sectors advance primary health care and essential health system capacities for universal health coverage improve health service coverage and financial protection to address inequity and gender inequalities prevent, mitigate, and prepare for health risks from all hazardsrapidly detect and sustain the response to health emergencies.

WHO’s investment case launch draws expressions of support, pledges to sustainably finance four-year strategy

WHO on Tuesday launched an investment case that lays out the Organization’s essential contribution to global health and seeks investment in its 2025–2028 strategy to save 40 million lives and improve the health of 6 billion people.

The investment case underpins WHO’s Investment Round, which kicked off on Sunday and has gained many robust expressions of support, commitments from countries to co-host, and a number of initial pledges that build momentum toward the Investment Round’s culmination later this year.

Statements of support and funding commitments came from Member States, and the European Union during Tuesday’s launch event at a strategic roundtable of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly.

Opening of the Health Assembly

On 27 May the Health Assembly opened with the election of Dr Edwin Dikoloti of Botswana as the President of the Health Assembly. The elected Vice-Presidents are Dr Frank C.S. Anthony of Guyana, Dr Youngmee Jee of the Republic of Korea, Dr Ala Nemerenco of the Republic of Moldova, Dr Ali Haji Adam Abubakar of Somalia and Dr P.G. Maheepala of Sri Lanka.

During the high-level session, H.E. Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Federal Councilor of the Swiss Confederation addressed the Health Assembly on behalf of the host country.

The delegates also heard from the Special Guest of Honour H.E. Mohamed El Ghazouani, President of Mauritania and Chairperson of the African Union and Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee. H.E. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, H.E. Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, H.E. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand and H.E. Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission delivered video statements.

Internationally acclaimed Egyptian opera singer Farrah El-Dibany performed at the Health Assembly. She shared her personal story to advocate strongly for the healing impact of music and the arts on health.