India sends delegation to 78th World Health Assembly, reaffirms commitment to global health cooperation
Geneva: Reaffirming its commitment towards global health cooperation, India has sent a delegation to participate in the 78th World Health Assembly commencing in Geneva, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), shared on Monday.
Providing the details in a post on X, the MoHFW said that the Indian delegation is being led by Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
It further noted that India's participation reflects the continued commitment towards strengthening global health systems and advancing international collaboration.
"Today marks the commencement of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. The Indian delegation, led by Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, is actively participating in the Assembly, reflecting India's continued commitment to strengthening global health systems and advancing international collaboration."
As per the World Health Organisation, the 78th World Health Assembly is being held in Geneva from May 19-27. The theme of this year's Health Assembly is, "One World for Health."
Notable highlights from the 78th Session would include, May 19 that marks the opening og the Assembly, with deliberations on the Pandemic Agreement in the afternoon.
On May 20, it is expected that the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement would take place along with a discussion on the Proposed Programme Budget 2026-2027.
May 21 would see a Ministerial Roundtable on data and sustainable financing and May 23 would see the presentation of the public health prizes and awards, the details were shared by WHO in an earlier post on X.
The most recent update has been the election of Dr Teodoro Javier Herbosa from the Philippines as President of the 78th World Health Assembly.
At the World health assemsbly, member States and the WHO Secretariat will have to reconcile a significant funding shortfall ahead of the next two-year programme budget. While fully funding WHO's growing mandate of work has long faced challenges, the United States' intended withdrawal from the Organization has further strained the budget. A planned 20% increase in mandatory member contributions that was years in the making will be up for adoption at WHA78, offering a potential boost--but in a constrained fiscal climate, its approval is uncertain. Broader governance and staffing reforms will also be on the agenda.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
Health initiative to provide safe educational environment
MUSCAT: The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Al Jisr Foundation for Charitable Works on Wednesday signed a cooperation agreement to support the "Health-Promoting Schools" initiative. The initiative aims to provide a safe and health-enhancing educational environment that enables students to improve their academic performance, acquire essential life skills and integrate into society. The agreement was signed by Dr Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Education; Sulaiman bin Nasser al Hiji, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Health for Administrative and Financial Affairs; and Dina al Khalili, Director-General of Al Jisr Foundation for Charitable Works. Dr Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Education, stated that this five-year initiative holds significant importance in enhancing students' health environment, serving as a key tool that positively impacts their academic achievement. He added that the total number of schools participating in the initiative since its launch has reached 566 across various educational directorates in the governorates. These schools implement the initiative's programmes in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Al Jisr Foundation for Charitable Works. Sulaiman bin Nasser al Hiji, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Health for Administrative and Financial Affairs, emphasised that this initiative stems from a strategic partnership to serve the public good, particularly by promoting health in school environments. This will be achieved through improving students' learning conditions, enhancing their academic performance, preventing diseases, reducing absenteeism, supporting their mental well-being and instilling lasting healthy habits — enabling them to focus, engage and learn more effectively. Dina al Khalili, Director-General of Al Jisr Foundation for Charitable Works, stated that this strategic partnership reflects the convergence of health and education efforts, realising a shared vision to provide a healthy school environment that enhances students' academic success and develops their essential life skills. She reaffirmed the foundation's commitment to creating a sustainable impact for students and society. Al Jisr Foundation will fund sustainable projects for three schools that have achieved the highest gold-level rating in the "Health-Promoting Schools" initiative over five years. Additionally, the foundation will oversee the initiative's implementation and collaborate with specialised teams from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health to develop a visual identity and an operational guide for the initiative. Efforts are also underway to prepare an electronic platform, which will be launched at a later stage. - ONA
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
Royal Decree transfers Directorate General of Medical Services to Ministry of Health
Muscat: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has issued a Royal Decree transferring the Directorate General of Medical Services from the Diwan of Royal Court to the Ministry of Health.
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
Follow animal handling guidelines to avoid Congo fever during Eid: MoH
Muscat: As Oman prepares for Eid, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has advised the public to take precautions against Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), a viral disease transmitted from animals to humans. According to the ministry, the slaughter of livestock poses potential health risks if proper safety measures are not followed. In a recent awareness campaign, the MOH highlighted the importance of preventive actions when dealing with animals and animal products. The ministry emphasised that Congo fever is a viral disease that can be transmitted through several means: Tick bites from infected ticks. Direct contact with the blood or tissues of infected animals during slaughter. Direct contact with an infected person or their bodily fluids. The campaign urges citizens and residents to use personal protective equipment when handling animals and meat, especially during slaughtering and meat processing. The ministry stressed, 'The best protection is to follow all preventive measures while dealing with animals and their remains." The awareness drive came as part of the government's broader public health strategy to prevent zoonotic diseases and ensure a safe Eid celebration across the country. Meanwhile, Muscat Municipality said in a statement that slaughterhouses and fruit and vegetable markets undergo intensive preparations during the festive seasons to provide integrated services for consumers, as municipality continues its efforts to ensure service quality and maintain public health and safety.
