Reflecting on 2023, which also marked the UN agency's 75th anniversaryth anniversary, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted key achievements and set targets for the coming year.
“In May I declared the end of COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern. This marked a turning point for the world after three years of crisis, pain and loss for people around the world. “I'm glad to see that life is back to normal,” she said in a video message.
New vaccines
Dr. Tedros also highlighted other achievements, such as the end of the mpox outbreak as a global health emergency and the approval of new vaccines against dengue, meningitis and malaria that threaten millions of people around the world, mainly the most vulnerable.
Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Belize achieved malaria-free status and progress was made in eliminating some tropical diseases in several countries, including sleeping sickness in Ghana; trachoma in Benin, Mali and Iraq, and lymphatic filariasis in Bangladesh and Laos.
“The road to eradicating another vaccine-preventable disease, polio, has reached its final mile. Thirty more countries introduced the HPV vaccine, advancing our goal of eliminating cervical cancer,” he said.
Climate impacts
Greater attention will also be paid to the health impacts of the climate crisis in 2023, he added. Health issues were high on the agenda at the COP28 conference in Dubai, where a global declaration on climate and health was issued, emphasizing the intersection of environmental and public health challenges.
Additionally, in September, Heads of State at the United Nations General Assembly committed to promoting universal health coverage, ending tuberculosis and protecting the world from future pandemics.
“Each of these achievements, and many more, demonstrated the power of science, solutions and solidarity to protect and promote health,” he emphasized.
'Immense and avoidable suffering'
Tedros also acknowledged the “immense and avoidable suffering and threats to health” over the past year.
Al Shifa Hospital's neonatal department does not have power to operate incubators (file).
He said Hamas' barbaric attacks on Israel on October 7 left around 1,300 people dead and more than 200 taken hostage, while reports of gender-based violence and mistreatment of hostages were deplorable.
The devastating attack on Gaza that followed has killed more than 20,000 people – mainly women and children – and injured more than 53,000, he continued.
Without peace there is no health
The WHO chief expressed deep concern about the impact on health infrastructure, noting that “as of December 22, only nine of the 36 health centers in Gaza were partially functional, and only four offered the most basic services in the country.” north”. He once again called for an immediate ceasefire.
The global panorama was also marked by conflict and insecurity in countries such as Sudan, Ukraine, Ethiopia and Myanmar.
“Without peace there is no health, and without health there can be no peace,” Tedros said.
He noted that, in addition to conflict-related challenges, issues such as poverty and lack of access to clean water and hygiene contributed to the spread of infectious diseases. The resurgence of cholera, with more than 40 outbreaks worldwide, raised particular concern.
Looking to the future
Looking ahead to 2024, the WHO chief highlighted the opportunity to address gaps in global pandemic preparedness.
He said governments are currently negotiating the first global agreement aimed at improving collaboration, cooperation and equity in responding to future pandemics.
“The Pandemic Agreement and plans to strengthen the International Health Regulations represent monumental actions by governments to create a safer and healthier world,” Tedros said.
The WHO Director-General concluded his message by expressing his gratitude to health workers, partners and colleagues, underlining the shared path to achieving Health for All.
