MALAYSIA has been elected vice-president of the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA) that will convene in Geneva next year.
The WHA consists of 194 member states and is the highest decision-making body governing the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar in a statement posted on Twitter said the voice of the Western Pacific will be brought to the world assembly and expressed his gratitude for the unanimous nomination as Vice President.
“Thank you to all the @WHOWPRO countries for unanimously nominating Malaysia as Vice President for the World Health Assembly 2022.
“We will bring the voice of the Western Pacific to the world assembly especially on the principles of equity, solidarity and accountability,” he said.
Besides Malaysia, the WHO Western Pacific Region comprise 36 other member countries that include Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Brunei, Cambodia, China and the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah pledged that the country would use this opportunity to pursue a bigger role in the global health arena.
“It is indeed a great honour for Malaysia to be accorded with the vice-presidency of WHA and we will take this opportunity to pursue a bigger role in global health,” he tweeted.
“Coincidentally, Malaysia is also serving in the executive board of the World Health Organisation from 2021 to 2024.”
The 75th WHA will take place from May 22 to 28, 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Malaysia, through former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, previously served as the vice president of the 69th WHA in 2016. – Oct 27, 2021
