The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 78), currently convening in New York, has taken an unprecedented focus on global public health, with the World Health Organization (WHO) calling on world leaders to prioritize health for all and apply the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. This appeal comes in the face of numerous humanitarian and climate-related crises posing threats to lives and livelihoods worldwide.
WHO’s call for an accelerated pursuit of health-related goals precedes the Sustainable Development Goals Summit (SDG Summit) and an extraordinary series of high-level meetings at UNGA, all centered on strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, response, achieving universal health coverage (UHC), and ending tuberculosis (TB).
Government leaders, convening to make commitments related to three major health challenges, have an opportunity to demonstrate that health should be seen as an investment rather than a cost. They can underscore that it is fundamental to the well-being of resilient families, societies, and economies.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated, “If COVID-19 taught us nothing else, it’s that when health is at risk, everything is at risk.” He stressed that the pandemic led to significant economic, social, and political disruptions and hindered progress toward health-related Sustainable Development Goals. Dr. Tedros urged world leaders to seize this moment to take tangible steps toward a healthier, safer, and more equitable world for all.
Progress in reducing infant and maternal mortality has stagnated, and in some regions, rates have even risen. Efforts to combat infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria have encountered setbacks. Additionally, many parts of the world are witnessing setbacks in sexual and reproductive health and rights. Access to critical healthcare varies widely worldwide, leaving millions without the ability to afford or access essential care. Noncommunicable diseases and mental disorders, which account for over 70% of global deaths, threaten social and economic development globally. However, the adoption of new technologies and a renewed commitment to equity and sharing, stemming from the pandemic, represent positive developments.
