‘Cyprus ready to join forces for global health’

Health Minister Popi Kanari expressed Cyprus’ readiness to collaborate with the World Health Organisation (WHO) partners in safeguarding health and prosperity of citizens on a global level.

Speaking during the WHO’s 76th World Health Summit, Kanari referred to the organisation’s significant achievements such as eliminating smallpox and the successful vaccinations against poliomyelitis while she praised the WHO’s role in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kanaris referred to the significant issues facing humanity which call for collective action, such as the impact of climate change on health and ensuring access to health services on a global scale.

She also agreed with the need for concluding a wider treaty on tackling pandemics so that would so that the international community will be able to timely and effectively manage a possible new pandemic.

Kanari outlined on Cyprus’ national actions and priorities in the health sector.

During the sidelines of the assembly, Kanari held separate meetings with her maltese counterpart, Chris Fearne and the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

With Fearne, Kanari discussed the issue of advancing bilateral relations between the two countries in the field of health mainly on issues of antimicrobial resistance and safeguarding medicine availability. They also discussed the issue of cooperation with regard to challenges facing the two countries’ health systems.

In her meeting with Ghebreyesus, Kanari discussed the WHO office in Cyprus priorities and the challenges in the field of health.

Ghebreyesus assured on the organisation’s and his own personal support in the efforts of the WHO Cyprus office to achieve its targets.