Geneva, Switzerland, January 22, 2023 (PAHO) – The 154th session of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) began today in Geneva, Switzerland. During the week, Council members will discuss more than 40 health-related topics, including WHO’s 14th General Program of Work (GPW14); prevention, preparation and response to health emergencies; accelerate national and global responses to antimicrobial resistance (AMR); and the impact of climate change on health, among other priority issues.
In his opening speech, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the Organization’s achievements in 2023, including ending COVID-19 and mpox as a global health emergency . He also highlighted the challenges of the past year, such as preventable diseases and deaths, as well as increasing conflicts and disasters.
Dr Tedros also said that “2024 will be a defining year for global health”, with opportunities for Member States “to shape the global health strategy for the next four years under GPW14” and “shape the ‘future of health emergencies’. thanks to the pandemic agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR).
On the first day of the Executive Board, an informal briefing was held on the processes related to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) for drafting and negotiating a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response and the Task Force. on amendments to the International Health Regulations (WHIHR). This information session allowed members of the Board of Directors to take stock of this work, as well as to ask questions and answers.
During the week, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO Regional Director for the Americas, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, will participate in sessions on a number of priority topics for the region, including climate change and health, and antimicrobials. resistance.
Dr Barbosa will also present the report of the WHO Regional Committee for the Americas, which was held September 25-29 in Washington DC.
The policies approved during the Committee included one aimed at strengthening the health workforce; a policy for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases among children, adolescents and young people; and policy to improve mental health, among others.
The Executive Board will be held from January 22 to 27 at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The sessions can be followed live here.
The WHO Executive Board is composed of 34 technically qualified members elected for a three-year term. The main functions of the Board are to implement the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly, as well as to advise and facilitate its work. The current Council includes six member states from the Americas: Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Paraguay, Peru and the United States.
