By Ayomide Otitoju
The World Health Organization (WHO) will call on world leaders to tackle critical global health challenges and increase investment in public health at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), taking place in New York from September 20 to 30, 2024.
The highlight of the health agenda is the second High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) on September 26, 2024. AMR, a growing global threat where bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites become resistant to medicines, will cause increasing suffering, especially in low- and middle-income countries, without decisive action. The draft political declaration, co-facilitated by Malta and Barbados, outlines necessary steps to address this crisis. “Antimicrobial resistance threatens a century of medical progress and could return us to the pre-antibiotic era,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
UNGA79 arrives at a critical time as the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic while grappling with ongoing social, humanitarian, and climate crises. Despite progress, efforts to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are behind schedule, and millions still lack access to essential health services.
The Summit of the Future on September 22-23 will convene world leaders to forge new international consensus on key global issues, including healthcare. The summit is expected to produce a Pact for the Future, featuring a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations, with a focus on health services and universal health coverage.
Throughout the high-level week, WHO officials will participate in numerous events, addressing issues such as digital health, maternal and child health, noncommunicable diseases, mental health, and climate change. Pandemic preparedness and advancing universal health coverage will also be key topics.
“Strong health systems, equitable access to services, and robust pandemic preparedness are vital for a safer world,” Dr. Tedros said, emphasizing the need to harness digital technologies to address health challenges from epidemics to climate change.
The UNGA session coincides with WHO’s first Investment Round, aimed at securing sustainable funding for its core work from 2025 to 2028. Dr. Tedros will underscore the importance of investing in global health at several key events, including a fireside chat with European Investment Bank President Nadia Calviño on September 23, focused on primary healthcare investment.
On September 24, WHO will host its third annual gathering of Heads of State to catalyze global commitment for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) ahead of the 2025 UNGA high-level meeting on NCDs and mental health.
During NYC Climate Week, from September 22-29, WHO will ensure the health impacts of climate change remain central to global discussions, highlighting the link between environmental and health crises, such as rising temperatures and the spread of infectious diseases. WHO experts will emphasize that climate change is not just an environmental issue, but also a severe public health challenge.
As UNGA79 unfolds, WHO will continue advocating for a global response to health challenges, including pandemic preparedness, AMR, and climate-driven health crises, calling for international cooperation to safeguard the health of current and future generations.
