WHO holds first-ever virtual health assembly

May 17 marked the beginning of the 73rd session of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Health Assembly, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland. This year’s meeting was the first-ever to be held virtually.

In a news release issued by the WHO, “delegates in attendance adopted a landmark resolution to bring the world together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.” One hundred thirty countries sponsored the resolution that was adopted by consensus.

The resolution, which is being referred to as the “roadmap for controlling the outbreak,” called for an amplification in efforts to control the ongoing pandemic.

Other contingents in the resolution included, “equitable access to fair distribution of all essential health technologies and products to combat the virus.” The resolution also calls for, “an independent and comprehensive evaluation of global response, including, but not limited to, WHO’s performance.”

Fourteen heads of state participated in the opening and closing of the sessions, with the consistent message that “global unity is the most powerful tool to combat the outbreak.”

Dr. Tedro Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said in his closing remarks, “COVID-19 has robbed us of people we love. It’s robbed us of lives and livelihoods; it’s shaken the foundations of our world; it threatens to tear at the fabric of international cooperation. But it’s also reminded us that for all our differences, we are one human race, and we are stronger together.”