The Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Edmondo Cirielli, carried out a joint mission to Geneva on the occasion of the World Health Assembly (WHA), the annual meeting of the main decision-making body of the World Health Organisation.
Minister Schillaci and Deputy Minister Cirielli jointly met with the Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Tedros A. Gebreyesus.
The meeting was an important moment in view of the Italian G7 Presidency in 2024.
During the meeting with Director General Tedros, Deputy Minister Cirielli highlighted the thematic priorities for Italy to develop its collaboration with WHO. In particular, Italy intends to expand collaboration with the WHO Health and Migrants Programme, which is of particular importance in promoting global health in a context of multidimensional crises. This is a complementary line with respect to the priority given to Africa, also in light of the Mattei Plan.
The Deputy Minister also put forward a proposal for a partnership with WHO focusing on strategies to support the health professions, from the viewpoint of strengthening skills, promoting the wellbeing of health workers and matching resource needs.
This year’s World Health Assembly coincides with the WHO’s 75th anniversary, an occasion to reflect on strategic priorities for the leading multilateral organisation in charge of global health, just weeks after the downgrading of Covid-19 from a global health emergency, and one year away from the ambitious goal of concluding the negotiation of an international agreement on prevention, preparedness and response to future pandemic threats.