Health Minister Andrew Little will represent New Zealand
at the first in-person World Health Assembly since the start
of the COVID-19 pandemic, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland,
from Sunday 22 – Wednesday 25 May (New Zealand
time).
“COVID-19 has affected people all around the
world, and health continues to top the global agenda. The
pandemic has shown that good health is essential for the
economic prosperity and social wellbeing of everyone,”
Andrew Little said.
The World Health Assembly is the
key decision-making body of the World Health Organisation,
of which New Zealand is a founding member. The assembly
brings together Ministers of Health from 194 countries to
discuss key global health and governance issues.
This
year marks the 75th World Health Assembly, and will be based
around the theme of “Health for peace, peace for
health”. Andrew Little will deliver New Zealand’s
country statement, which focuses on health equity and the
Government’s health reform programme.
The Health
Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with counterparts
from other countries, and meet with United Nations health
leaders, to discuss health issues ranging from mental
health, cancer, infection prevention and control, and
efforts to strengthen the international system for pandemic
prevention, preparedness and response.
“New Zealand
has always stood up to be a good global partner for health.
Throughout COVID-19 we’ve actively shared what we have
learned, our successes and challenges, so that together we
can get through the pandemic faster. The World Health
Assembly is an important forum for New Zealand to be at,”
Andrew Little said.
The Health Minister will also make
a brief visit to the United Kingdom to look at how locality
networks – a key part of New Zealand’s health reforms
– are working in the Midlands town of
Dudley.
“Dudley has a long history of implementing
the type of community-based integrated care we are moving
towards in New Zealand. This visit is a valuable chance to
meet with health providers working in locality networks and
to hear from people who are using those services,” Andrew
Little
said.
