HAVANA – The day before, at the 76th session of the World Health Assembly, José Ángel Portal Miranda, Cuba’s Minister of Public Health, endorsed Cuba’s desire to continue contributing to the health and lives of people, wherever its services and expertise are needed.
According to a note published on the website of the Ministry of Public Health, in his speech, the minister reaffirmed the need to strengthen and improve countries’ health systems, which are challenges that must be worked on continuously and with full responsibility, to achieve access for all people to health services.
Portal Miranda insisted that the seventy-fifth anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO), the main theme of the Assembly, should be viewed as an opportune moment for the analysis of points of view, in order to continue to improve the health of all, in a specific context. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are becoming increasingly apparent.
He highlighted the importance of evaluating the lessons left by the confrontation with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, and implementing measures accordingly, as a priority for health systems in the way of strengthening them.
The minister stressed the need to continue monitoring the effects of climate change and to strengthen measures aimed at addressing and reducing the risks involved in social determinants to people’s health, the presence of which could condition the emergence of new health emergencies.
He called for attention to developing resilient health systems, with the ability to move towards universal health coverage, ensuring everyone’s right to health and compliance with the goals of sustainable development.
The Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly is taking place on Sunday in Geneva, Switzerland, and will run until May 30, with the theme “WHO turns 75, saves lives, promotes health for all.”
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