The Minister of Health and Medical Services, Honourable Dr Paul Bosawai, is currently in Geneva, Switzerland, attending his first World Health Assembly, since he assumed the role as the Minister of Health and Medical Services in May 2024.
The Seventy-eighth session of the World Health Assembly (WHA78) is being convened from 19 to 27 May 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme “One World for Health”. The theme underscores whose enduring commitment to solidarity and equity, highlighting that even in unprecedented times, everyone, everywhere should have an equal chance to live a healthy life.
The Health Assembly brings together high-level country representatives and other stakeholders to address health challenges. This year’s gathering comes at a pivotal moment for global health, as Member States confront emerging threats and major shifts in the landscape for global health and international development.
Delivering his first statement at the 78th World Health Assembly on Wednesday, and in responding to the theme of the 78th World Health Assembly, Honourable Dr Paul Bosawai highlighted that the “theme cannot come at a perfect time, as this theme represents and calls on all of us to build a strong, resilient and healthier global community into the future for our people. We are dependent on one another”.
Health Minister reminded the Assembly that “not so long ago, all countries, big and small, rich and poor witnessed how the recent world-wide pandemic, has impacted the world over and brought the World Economy to its feet. The impact of the recent COVID-19 pandemic and its profound consequences remains fresh on our minds. Despite the many measures that many countries undertook that time, clearly, no country was safe until all countries were. However, we also saw an unprecedented level of global effort and commitment to manage the situation that time. Such, only emphasized the importance of investing in resilient health systems and international cooperation in the face of global health challenges”.
In further reinforcing the call on the theme of the Assembly, Health Minister highlighted to the members of the Assembly that “we have journeyed long and hard over so many years, learning many lessons along the way. The greatest lesson of our global efforts is that we must work together not only when a crisis unfolds, but strive to be ahead through strong collaborations, partnerships and preparations during normal and not so normal times. As a Family of Nations, we are together in our journeys, needing each other more than ever to build a healthier, responsive and resilient future”.
At the closure of his statement, Health Minister endorsed the Pandemic Agreement, stressing that “the Pandemic Agreement is a testament of the strength of solidarity, multilateralism, equity, peace, and unity”.
The Honourable Minister is being accompanied by his Permanent Secretary, Mrs Pauline McNeil, Deputy Secretary Health Care, Dr Gregory Jilini and Head of Emergency Department of the National Referral Hospital, Dr Trina Sale.
