Address by Mr. Akihisa SHIOZAKI, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, on the Occasion of the 77th World Health Assembly (28 May 2024)
2024/6/12
77th World Health Assembly
Theme : All for Health, Health for All
Dear President,
His Excellency, Dr Tedros,
Director-General of the World Health Organization,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of the government of Japan,
I am honored to make this address at this seventy-seventh World Health Assembly.
First, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the WHO for their dedication and commitment to promote health for all.
However, Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine violates Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and constitutes a clear violation of international law. We strongly condemn such actions. Japan will continue to support the Ukrainian government in its efforts to protect its people from such threats to public health.
Japan is also deeply concerned about the critical humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, including Rafah. Japan calls for an immediate ceasefire to ensure a sustainable environment for humanitarian aid activities and the release of the hostages, and strongly hopes that this will lead to a sustainable ceasefire.
We would also like to emphasize that in addressing global health issues such as infection control, it is important to refer to good examples of regions such as Taiwan that have achieved public health success. We should avoid making any geographical vacuums created by leaving specific regions behind, in order to prevent the spread of infection worldwide.
Today, in light of the serious challenges to public health we jointly face, I am delighted to make two important announcements.
Firstly, in collaboration with the WHO and the World Bank, Japan is formally announcing the establishment of the UHC Knowledge Hub, in the Tokyo area in 2025. This Knowledge Hub will serve to provide capacity building, including training, for policymakers, especially from low to middle income countries, to effectively invest in their healthcare systems and to strengthen healthcare financing. In addition, in order to further strengthen momentum towards UHC, Japan will convene a High-level Forum.
Second, I am pleased to announce that Japan has, [today,] formally joined the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health. Japan recognizes the growing importance of “climate and health” and hereby pledges to further contribute to our joint efforts to overcome these difficult challenges.
[Mr. President,]
There are many serious health challenges we must jointly address, such as AMR, NCDs, climate change, Health emergencies, and Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response.
Japan commends the tremendous effort and leadership by the WHO for advancing these tough challenges and remains fully committed to support and contribute to resolving our common global health challenges.
Thank you.