3 Key Themes from the World Health Assembly: Creating a Safer, Fairer, and Healthier World for All
By Annie Rosenthal, +SocialGood Community Manager
The World Health Assembly is the premier annual gathering on global health, involving representatives of WHO member states and many other global health experts. The 70th World Health Assembly took place from May 22–31, covering a wide range of global health issues from non-communicable diseases to emergency response to universal health coverage.
At this year’s assembly, outgoing WHO Director-General Margaret Chan outlined a vision for the future, saying: “Our actions under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development must be guided by the 5 Ps: people, planet, peace, prosperity, and partnership.”
On May 23, WHO member states elected a new Director-General to succeed Dr. Chan after her term ends: Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia. Under Dr. Tedros’ leadership, WHO has the opportunity to drive major public health gains that lead us toward a world that is safer, fairer, and healthier for all.
Here are three key themes that emerged during the World Health Assembly.
Creating a safer world. As Dr. Chan stated in her opening address, “WHO delivers a safety net that encircles the world.” Diseases don’t stop at borders, and in our interconnected world, the health of citizens in one country matters to us all. By learning from the past and looking to the future, WHO is focused on strengthening global health security, creating resilient health systems, and reducing preventable threats. Since the most recent Ebola crisis, WHO has substantially improved its emergency response capabilities. WHO is constantly working to improve its emergency response programs, advancing reforms so it responds faster and more effectively to outbreaks and challenges. WHO also works to reduce longer-term threats to our health, including environmental health risks, smoke and air pollution, mental health issues, and antimicrobial resistance.
Creating a fairer world. The WHO Constitution states that “The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition,” however in many countries healthcare is a privilege reserved for the wealthy. To combat the gap in access to quality, affordable health care, WHO is working with partners to expand quality care and services, and affordable and effective medicines and vaccines to all. Human Rights Adviser to WHO Rajat Khosla declared at World Health +SocialGood that: “We know what works. We know what to do. The challenge is that of implementation.” The UHC2030 Global Compact provides a platform for organizations and people around the world to support WHO’s path to universal health coverage.
Creating a healthier world. In addition to increasing access to health care, WHO is helping countries to adapt their health care systems to meet the unique needs of marginalized populations, including people in emergencies, refugees, women, children, LGBTI populations and people living with disabilities. Recognizing the barriers these populations face allows WHO to work with partners to help adapt systems to address their needs. Dr. Tedros noted in a speech at the World Health Assembly that he has “seen firsthand the power of health to lift individuals and communities from despair into hope.” By meeting the health needs of vulnerable populations, WHO and the global health community are helping us get closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals’ promise to leave no one behind.
Learn more about the top topics of the World Health Assembly by watching the World Health +SocialGood program:
