Honourable Vice-Minister Eduardo Jaramillo,
Your Excellency Director-General Rocío Bárcena,
Your Excellency, Ambassador Francisca Méndez,
Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
Bienvenido and buenos dias.
On behalf of the World Health Organization, let me say how honoured we all are by the recognition bestowed upon this Organization by the government and people of Mexico, through this postage stamp commemorating WHO’s 75th anniversary. Muchas gracias, from our heart.
When the nations of the world came together to establish the World Health Organization in 1948, they had a clear but bold vision: the highest possible standard of health, for all people.
And Mexico has been on that journey since the beginning. In fact, one of those who participated in the drafting of the WHO constitution was a Mexican delegate, Dr Manuel Martínez Báez.
That constitution was the first document in history to formally recognize health as a fundamental human right for all people. Thank you so much for participating in the foundation of WHO.
In the 75 years since then, the health and well-being of the world’s people has improved more rapidly than at any time in the history of humanity, especially for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.
Mexico has so much to be proud of during this period, making tremendous strides towards universal health coverage with many significant programmes.
The country has ended transmission of many life-threatening diseases, including smallpox, polio, measles, onchocerciasis and human rabies.
Mexico City also hosted the 8th World Health Assembly, in 1955. This was one of the rare times when it was held outside Geneva.
WHO and PAHO are proud to continue our support to Mexico on its journey towards universal health coverage;
to restore essential health services in the wake of the COVID pandemic, including for routine vaccinations;
to promote health, including through life-saving efforts to reduce tobacco use and encourage healthy eating;
and to support your ongoing efforts to strengthen preparedness for health threats, including through your participation in the ongoing negotiations for the pandemic accord.
On behalf of the World Health Organization, I thank you again for this great honour.
Muchas gracias. I thank you.