On 6 October 2022, the Cypriot Government and WHO/Europe signed a joint statement laying the groundwork to establish a WHO Country Office in Cyprus. The new Country Office, located in Larnaca, will support the country to achieve its public health goals, such as tackling infectious diseases and noncommunicable diseases, and facilitate the sharing of Cyprus’s expertise and experience in health innovation across the WHO European Region.
During the ceremony, Mr Michael Hadjipantela, Minister of Health of Cyprus, expressed the commitment of both signatories “to align efforts towards the successful operations of the Office in Larnaca in the near future”.
WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, who signed on behalf of WHO/Europe, emphasized the significance of this development: “Today we are making the European Region a safer place, better equipped to face future health threats and deliver the health care that citizens expect. The new WHO Country Office in Cyprus will build on the country’s history of excellence in science and research, and harness its high level of preparedness and expertise in combating infectious and zoonotic diseases.”
Dr Kluge added, “At the crossroads between east and west, Cyprus has a unique geopolitical position as a hub for migration and an entry point for advancing inter-regional health. I welcome this new office that will provide a much-needed platform for dialogue and collaboration in public health for both Cyprus and the European Region as a whole.”
The way forward after the pandemic
The day after the signing, the ministers of health of Cyprus, Israel, Latvia, Malta, Spain and Slovenia, as well as other high-level representatives and experts from across Europe, came together for a hybrid conference organized by the Ministry of Health of Cyprus to take stock of current health emergencies, lay out lessons learned and identify follow-up actions.
Addressing delegates, Dr Kluge outlined the current situation in the Region. Acknowledging that COVID-19 remains with us, with cases already on the rise in Europe, he noted that the winter months may once again prove challenging. Referring to the monkeypox outbreak as well, he called on countries not to be complacent.
The Regional Director also spoke of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, caused by 8 months of war that have disrupted health services – including COVID-19 and routine immunization schedules. Dr Kluge commended the European Union (EU) for its solid, long-term support to WHO’s response activities for Ukraine.
In his reflections on strengthening emergency preparedness, the Regional Director provided 3 examples of priority actions that countries are taking:
- building stronger health systems that are grounded in universal health coverage and able to cope with a rapid surge in demand through a dual-track approach;
- developing and sustaining integrated surveillance systems for detecting, sequencing and monitoring respiratory viruses including influenza, COVID-19 and other pathogens, and sharing data and samples with WHO; and
- engaging communities and building trust through transparent, timely communications to encourage adherence to public health and social measures.
The Regional Director concluded that these actions must be implemented now, while there is momentum and political commitment to sustainable investment.
His reflections were complemented by Ms Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, who spoke of the importance of cooperation within and with the EU to respond to COVID-19, and to prevent, prepare for and respond to other health crises. She described the elements of a strong European Health Union “to chart a new path for collaboration in the area of health”.