In a video message to the opening day of the 77th session of the assembly, Antonio Guterres said: "Our world is in trouble, from climate chaos to rising poverty and inequalities and multiplying conflicts. And when crisis rages, health suffers."
The annual WHA will continue until June 1 under the theme of "All for Health, Health for All" in the UN office in Geneva and is being attended by delegations from all WHO member states, NGOs, and prominent individuals.
Guterres stressed that there are more than 20 million children missing routine vaccinations across the globe, rising cases of Dengue and other diseases linked with rising global temperatures, causing outbreaks in more than 20 countries in 2024 alone, and the mountain of evidence that "health is a casualty of war."
"Millions of people in Sudan and Gaza are at risk of dying not only from bullets and bombs but from untreated injuries and disease, and precedent attacks on healthcare go beyond anything I've seen in my time as secretary-general," he said.
He noted that WHA is an opportunity to address many global health challenges, and "utilize our international architecture, building the systems we need for the crisis we know will come."
Regarding the pandemic agreement, he said it is "a once-in-a-generation" opportunity to ensure the global health system can respond "more quickly and equitably" when the next pandemic strikes.
"I urge you to bring it to fruition and to support the amendment," he said. "Let's seize this chance to make these World Health Assembly counts and help build a healthier, safer, fairer world for us all."
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