As the World Health Organization mulls whether to declare the end of the COVID-19 global emergency, next week member countries will meet to discuss proposals for how the world can better prepare and respond to future health emergencies.
To be sure, WHO executive board — which is composed of the agency’s member states and meets every January to agree on the agenda for the annual World Health Assembly, the WHO’s highest decision making body — has several other key health issues and resolutions to handle. They include building countries’ essential diagnostics capacities and strengthening the health of women and children through nutritious food.
The biggest spotlight is on WHO financing, as well as how the various proposals on health emergency preparedness and response will converge. Several health experts told Devex they are closely watching these two agenda items at the meeting, which kicks off Monday in Geneva.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
