Syria’s Efforts to Meet Citizens’ Health Needs under Crisis to be Highlighted at 72nd World Health Assembly

DAMASCUS, (ST)- Syria is to take part in the 72nd World Health Assembly (WHA) due to be held next week in Geneva, Switzerland.

 The debate is expected to focus on a range of internal and external questions facing the United Nations’ health body.

Syria’s Participation in the event is a new opportunity to brief the Assembly member states on “the Syrian government’s exceptional efforts” to meet citizens’ health needs and on the health situation in the country as well as the challenges facing Syria amid the growing needs of citizens and the European and American sanctions imposed on the Syrian people and which have badly affected the health sector, Health Minister Nizar Yazigi said in a statement to journalists.

 The minister pointed out that on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly meeting, he will meet international health leaders a number of health ministers from friendly countries to discuss cooperation that contributes to improving the health situation in Syria.

Representative of 194 states member in the assembly as well as international organizations, commissions and donor parties will discuss preparedness to face and respond to health challenges, the health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories and occupied Syrian Golan, the health condition of refugees and immigrants and eradicating polio and smallpox.

Access to medicines and vaccines, prevent and control non-communicable diseases, ending tuberculosis and preparedness to confront pandemic influenza, in addition to issues relating to health and climate change, antimicrobial resistance and patient safety through monitoring water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities, will also be discussed, besides a global strategy for women, children and adolescents’ health.

The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the forum through which the World Health Organization (WHO) is governed by its 194 member states. It is the world’s highest health policy setting body and is composed of health ministers from member states.

The members of the WHA generally meet every year in May in Geneva, the location of WHO Headquarters. The main tasks of the WHA are to decide major policy questions, as well as to approve the WHO work program and budget and elect its Director General.

Hamda Mustafa