A Monegasque Delegation Takes Part in the 69th World Health Assembly

H.E. Ms. Carole Lanteri, Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations Office in Geneva.  © Chris Black, WHO

Monaco took part in the 69^th World Health Assembly (WHA), held in Geneva from 23 to 28 May 2016.  The Monegasque delegation* was headed by H.E. Ms. Carole Lanteri, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Principality of Monaco to the United Nations Office in Geneva, accompanied by Mr. Alexandre Bordero, Director of Health Affairs and Ms. Elisabeth Lanteri-Minet, Director of International Affairs.

Further to the adoption of the sustainable development goals last September in New York, the general debate of this 69^th Assembly, which was attended by more than 190 States, members and observers, was on the theme of "Transforming Our World:  The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."

In her opening remarks, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Margaret Chan, welcomed the central position that health occupies in the new sustainable development agenda.  She also highlighted the main current and future challenges, focusing in particular on climate change, antimicrobial resistance and non-communicable diseases, as well as outbreaks of epidemics, such as the Ebola, Zika and yellow fever epidemics.  Dr. Chan reiterated the WHO's commitment to implementing the reforms necessary for building a more robust and functional Organization.

In her speech, H.E. Ms. Lanteri called upon the WHO to fulfil its role as leader of world governance in health matters and recalled that health is a priority for the Principality, both at the national level and through its international cooperation.  The Principality of Monaco, which fully respects its commitment to international solidarity, is focusing its activities on strengthening health systems and combating pandemics and forgotten diseases, especially in the most vulnerable countries.