Document
Dear Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,
As you guide the World Health Organisation to the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly- WHA 77 (27 May to 1 June 2024), on behalf of the global constituency of the WCC, I express my deep gratitude for your leadership and wish you God's blessings for the success of this crucial Assembly.
We hope and pray that the pandemic agreement and amendments to the existing 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR) will be agreed upon and will equip the world to respond effectively to emerging global crises. Our member churches and constituencies are in solidarity with WHO as you spearhead the new financing mechanism, the WHO Investment Round, by making funding more predictable and flexible.
We also hope that the decisions at WHA77 address the urgent health needs of vulnerable populations and communities in conflict. May WHO's presence and plans promote health and prepare a path to peace.
The theme of this year’s Health Assembly - All for Health, Health for All, resonates with the values held dearly by and promoted by faith communities.
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body... there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:12, 25, 27).
May we all be inspired to work unconditionally and collectively for the health of all! The ill health and suffering experienced by the least and the most vulnerable must be felt by and responded to by all in a united, equitable, effective, and mutually accountable manner!
We share WHO's mission of promoting health, keeping the world safe, and serving the vulnerable. Through these efforts, more people will benefit from universal health coverage, be better protected from health emergencies, and enjoy better health and well-being.
May the WHA 77 strengthen WHO's mission.
With my best regards,
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
General secretary
World Council of Churches
