79th World Health Assembly opens in Geneva with new president elected
The Story
The Seventy-ninth session of the World Health Assembly opened in Geneva, Switzerland with the election of Dr Víctor Elías Atallah Lajam of the Dominican Republic as President. Delegates heard addresses from host country representative Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, and video messages from UN Secretary-General António Guterres and others. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus presented Global Health Awards to four individuals.
Key Facts
- The Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly (WHA79) opened in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Dr Víctor Elías Atallah Lajam of the Dominican Republic was elected President of the Health Assembly.
- Elected Vice-Presidents are Dr Mohamed Ali Al-Ghouj (Libya), Dr Assa Badiallo Touré (Mali), Mrs Katarzyna Drążek-Laskowska (Poland), Mrs Neesha Mehta (Nepal), and Mr Elias Kapavore (Papua New Guinea).
- Dr Timur Sultangaziyev (Kazakhstan) chairs Committee A; Dr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (Ghana) chairs Committee B.
- H.E. Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Federal Councillor of Switzerland, addressed the Assembly on behalf of the host country.
- H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana, addressed the Assembly as Special Guest of Honour.
- Video messages were heard from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Syrian President Ahmad Al Sharaa, and Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, addressed the Assembly and presented the Awards for Global Health to Dr Tore Godal, Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis, Dr Mike Ryan, and Dr Heba El Sewedy.
- H.E. Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain, addressed the Assembly at the conclusion of the afternoon plenary session.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Dr Víctor Elías Atallah Lajam – newly elected President of the World Health Assembly (Dominican Republic)
- Dr Mohamed Ali Al-Ghouj – elected Vice-President (Libya)
- Dr Assa Badiallo Touré – elected Vice-President (Mali)
- Mrs Katarzyna Drążek-Laskowska – elected Vice-President (Poland)
- Mrs Neesha Mehta – elected Vice-President (Nepal)
- Mr Elias Kapavore – elected Vice-President (Papua New Guinea)
- Dr Timur Sultangaziyev – Chair of Committee A (Kazakhstan)
- Dr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh – Chair of Committee B (Ghana)
- H.E. Elisabeth Baume-Schneider – Federal Councillor of the Swiss Confederation
- H.E. John Dramani Mahama – President of Ghana, Special Guest of Honour
- H.E. António Guterres – United Nations Secretary-General
- H.E. Ahmad Al Sharaa – President of the Syrian Arab Republic
- H.E. Mia Mottley – Prime Minister of Barbados
- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – WHO Director-General
- Dr Tore Godal – recipient of WHO Award for Global Health
- Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis – recipient of WHO Award for Global Health
- Dr Mike Ryan – recipient of WHO Award for Global Health
- Dr Heba El Sewedy – recipient of WHO Award for Global Health
- H.E. Pedro Sanchez – Prime Minister of Spain
