President of Pakistan inaugurates the 64th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the ...

10 October 2017, Islamabad, Pakistan – For the first time in Regional Committee history, the opening session of the Regional Committee’s 64th session, was inaugurated by the president of the host country, Pakistan, reflecting the importance of health on the national and global agenda. In his opening speech, H.E. Mr. Mamnoon Hussain, President of Pakistan, called on “the international community, and especially the regional counties, to cooperate willingly to address the challenges faced, putting aside political matters, so that a comprehensive strategy can be devised to control the spread of infectious diseases and other public health threats.” Dr Mahmoud Fikri, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, emphasized the necessity of placing health at the centre of development, focusing on the right to health, equity, fairness, universality and solidarity. "We must see health as the smartest thing to invest in, which yields high returns. We must secure political commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and truly we must leave no one behind," Dr Fikri added. “I would like to take this opportunity to commend the tireless effort of both governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan, who are striving to make us part of a polio-free world.” In his opening address, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said that this was not an easy Read more...
Source: WHO EMRO News - Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news