WHO is working to support countries to mobilize money for health, and to increase the efficiency of their health systems, in line with the Lusaka Agenda of one plan, one budget, one report.

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Navigating this time of crisis requires leadership:

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Leadership from governments, to invest in their people and their health;

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Leadership from creditors, to offer concessional lending at fair terms;

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And leadership from donors, to strengthen national systems, not create parallel ones.

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Ultimately, health is not a cost to be contained – it is an investment to be nurtured: in people, in stability and in prosperity.

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Now, to Gaza, whose people have now been under bombardment for almost two years.

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They have limited access to basic services, have faced repeated displacement, and are now suffering from a blockade of food supplies.

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Malnutrition is widespread and hunger-related deaths are rising. In July, nearly 12,000 children under five years were identified as suffering from acute malnutrition, the highest monthly figure ever recorded.

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So far this year, 99 people have died from malnutrition, including 29 children under five. These reported numbers are likely underestimates. 

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Diseases continue to spread, fuelled by overcrowding and deteriorating water, sanitation and hygiene conditions, severely affecting the youngest.

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As of the 31st of July, a total of 418 suspected cases of meningitis and 64 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome have been reported, with a noticeable increase in July.

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Since the conflict began in October 2023, WHO has helped to evacuate 7522 patients from Gaza.

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Just yesterday, WHO supported the medical evacuation of 15 child critical patients to Jordan, together with 42 companions.

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But more than 14,800 patients in Gaza are still in urgent need of specialised medical care. We urge more countries to step forward to accept patients and for medical evacuations to be expedited through all possible routes.

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People are dying not only from hunger and disease, but also in the desperate search for food.

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Since the 27th of May, more than 1600 people have been killed and nearly 12,000 injured while trying to collect food from distribution sites. 

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Despite the attack carried out on our warehouse and guesthouse last month, WHO has continued to bring in supplies and deliver to hospitals quickly.

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Our premises need ongoing protection. Displacement orders issued in Gaza City yesterday are risking the safety of our warehouse, which is 500 metres from the evacuation zone.

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Since the 25th of June, WHO has sent 68 trucks of medical supplies into Gaza, including essential medicines, blood, trauma and surgery supplies.

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But that amount is only a fraction of what is needed. Those hospitals that are still functioning even partially are overwhelmed, and the most basic supplies have run out.  

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The desperation in Gaza has led to a breakdown of law and order, creating dangerous conditions under which humanitarian operations are forced to be conducted.

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The ongoing blockages must be stopped and greater volumes of aid need to come in to rebuild critical reserves.

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We call for a scaled-up, sustained and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid, including food and health aid, in line with international humanitarian law, via all possible routes.

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We also call for humanitarian corridors to evacuate those in need of urgent medical care outside Gaza. 

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We call for the protection of health workers, patients and all civilians. 

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We call for the release of all remaining hostages, and for their humane treatment and access to medical care and food. 

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We call for the immediate and unconditional release of our colleague who has been detained since the 21st of July. 

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And most of all, we call for a ceasefire, and a lasting peace.

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In Sudan, unrelenting violence has led to widespread hunger, disease and suffering.

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There are reports from the city of El Fasher that people are eating animal feed to survive.

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Millions are going hungry and famine conditions have been confirmed in parts of the country.

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About 770,000 children under five years are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year.

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In the first six months of this year, nutrition centres supported by WHO have treated more than 17,000 severely malnourished children with medical complications. But many more are beyond reach.

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Cholera has swept across Sudan, with all states reporting outbreaks. Nearly 100,000  cases have been reported since July last year.

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With WHO’s support, oral cholera vaccination campaigns have been conducted in several states, including Khartoum. The latest campaign has just concluded in the North Kordofan and Sennar states.

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While we are seeing a declining trend in numbers, there are gaps in disease surveillance, and progress is fragile.

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Recent floods, affecting large parts of the country, are expected to worsen hunger and fuel more outbreaks of cholera, malaria, dengue and other diseases.

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WHO has prepositioned essential medicines and supplies, anticipating challenges with access due to rains and floods.

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To prepare for the rainy season, we have also helped to train rapid response teams; strengthened disease surveillance and early warning systems; and scaled up water, sanitation and hygiene interventions.

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But our efforts are held back by limited access and a lack of funding. WHO has received less than one-third of the money we need to provide urgent health assistance in Sudan.

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As long as the violence continues in Gaza, Sudan and other conflict zones, we can expect to see more hunger, more displacement and more disease.

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In each place, and everywhere, the best medicine is peace.

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Now, a short update on mpox.

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It has almost been a year since I declared a public health emergency of international concern over the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in Africa.

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In the first six months of this year, over 30,000 mpox cases and 119 deaths have been reported globally.

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In Africa, 23 countries are currently reporting outbreaks.

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Clade Ib, a variant that first emerged in late 2023, has led to outbreaks in a number of other countries, mainly in Africa.

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The trends are mixed: in some of the countries and areas most affected by clade Ib, we are seeing a decline in cases.

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In other places, we are seeing new outbreaks as the virus affects countries that had not reported cases before.

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In West Africa, we have also seen an expansion of clade IIb, which was the cause of the previous global outbreak.

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Overall, few deaths have been reported and mortality rates are low. But for immunocompromised patients, particularly those with uncontrolled HIV, the risk remains high.

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We are seeing increasing capacity in countries to manage mpox outbreaks.  

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The declaration of the public health emergency a year ago brought much-needed resources for controlling these outbreaks.

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We have been able to expand diagnostic capacity in several affected areas.

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In the past year, over 500 experts have been deployed to the field;

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About 3.2 million vaccine doses have been delivered to 12 countries, the majority through the mpox Access and Allocation Mechanism;

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And WHO, Africa CDC and others have worked with over 100 local and international organizations to strengthen risk communication and community engagement.

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But drastic cuts to foreign assistance are hindering our efforts.

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WHO’s recommendations for managing mpox have been extended for another year, and next month the Emergency Committee will meet again to consider whether mpox continues to represent a public health emergency of international concern.

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As you know, nations are currently negotiating an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution here in Geneva.

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WHO urges governments to strengthen enforceable protections for health in the treaty text during this crucial phase of negotiations.

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Plastic pollution poses significant and growing risks to human health and the environment, which are closely linked.

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These risks disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, including workers with occupational exposure, children, informal workers, and communities near extraction, production and disposal sites.

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Many of the chemicals added to plastics during their manufacture are hazardous, including endocrine disruptors linked to hormonal imbalance, reproductive disorders, infertility, kidney disease, and cancer. These leach into the environment and human body across the life cycle of plastics.

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Emerging evidence also connects plastic-related exposures to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular risks.

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We call on all countries to negotiate, adopt and implement a strong treaty that protects health from the harms of plastic pollution.

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This week marks World Breastfeeding Week.

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Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure a baby’s health, development and survival.

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It strengthens a baby’s immune system, providing protection against diseases including diarrhoea and pneumonia.

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It supports mothers’ health too, reducing risks of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

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Globally however, only 48% of newborns under six months of age are exclusively breastfed.  

We need more high quality maternal and newborn care, including breastfeeding support services and investments in skilled breastfeeding counselling.

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But we also need to create environments – at home, in health facilities, and at work – that protect, support and empower breastfeeding mothers.

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Finally, today WHO has designated national regulators in Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom as WHO-listed authorities, meaning they meet the highest international standards for regulation of medical products.

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In addition, we have expanded the scope of approval for the Republic of Korea’s national regulator.

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Around 70% of countries worldwide still face significant challenges due to weak or inadequate regulatory systems for evaluating and authorizing medical products.

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WHO-listed authorities play a pivotal role in ensuring more efficient use of limited resources, enabling faster access to quality-assured life-saving medical products to millions more people.

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This is an example of the unique role that WHO plays in strengthening national health systems.

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Before we close, I would like to take a moment to recognize the passing of David Nabarro, a dear friend to many at WHO and in the global health world, and beyond.

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David was a great champion of global health and health equity, and a wise, generous mentor to countless individuals.

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I share again my sincerest condolences with David's loving family and friends. He has left a truly lasting legacy.

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Thank you all once again for your ongoing interest in WHO’s work, and we look forward to your questions.