Thread by @WHO

LIVE with @DrTedros at the inauguration of the WHO Country Office in #Bahrain twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

@DrTedros "Honoured to be able to attend the opening of the WHO Country Office in the Kingdom of 🇧🇭, WHO’s 152nd country office. The Office will deliver strategic, technical, policy & service delivery support to the govt to advance health & well-being nationally, regionally & 🌍"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "The opening of this country [in #Bahrain] office reflects WHO’s commitment to serve all countries, at all income levels, providing support tailored to the needs of the country and its place in the global health architecture"-@DrTedros #HealthForAll #WHOImpact

@DrTedros "I would like to especially commend #Bahrain for its efforts to prepare for and respond to #COVID19, and its close coordination with WHO. It’s pleasing to see that cases and deaths are now near the lowest levels since the pandemic began"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1419510570420690947?s=20

@DrTedros "#Bahrain has also demonstrated its global solidarity, as one of the first countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region to join the “Solidarity Trial", its award for women’s empowerment in health, and in hosting an international webinar on best practices in #COVID19"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "WHO recognizes that #COVID19 has caused severe disruptions to essential services for immunization, nutrition, noncommunicable diseases, family planning & more. That’s why WHO’s top priority is universal health coverage, built on strong #primaryhealthcare"-@DrTedros #HealthForAll

@DrTedros "WHO’s vision is a world in which all people can access the health services they need, without facing financial hardship, and we know that #Bahrain shares the same vision"-@DrTedros #HealthForAll

@DrTedros "One of our key goals in our work with the @MOH_Bahrain will be to identify key areas where #Bahrain can act as an incubator for best practices, as a regional capacity-building hub, and to expand its role in policy dialogue and health diplomacy"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MOH_Bahrain "I would like to leave you with 3⃣ specific requests:
1⃣ we urge you to continue striving to make progress towards universal health coverage, especially by building strong #primaryhealthcare. There are always more services to cover and financial gaps to close"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MOH_Bahrain "2⃣we urge you to continue a comprehensive approach to protect your people from #COVID19. The pandemic is a long way from over, and every country must continue with a tailored and consistent approach of public health measures and vaccination"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MOH_Bahrain "We also seek #Bahrain’s support for controlling the #COVID19 pandemic regionally and globally. To do that, WHO’s target is to support every country to vaccinate at least:
-10% of its population by the end of September
-40% by the end of 2021
-70% by the middle of 2022"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MOH_Bahrain "To reach those goals, we need 11 billion [vaccine] doses, and we need your support, by sharing doses and funds to control #COVID19 all over the world"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1419543445505560579?s=20

@DrTedros @MOH_Bahrain "3⃣ we seek your commitment for strengthening health security nationally, regionally and globally. At the #WHA74, Member States agreed hold a Special Session of the Assembly in November of this year to consider developing a #PandemicTreaty"-@DrTedros

"One of the major gaps exposed during the #COVID19 pandemic has been the lack of international solidarity and sharing: the sharing of pathogen data, epidemiological information, resources, and technology"-@DrTedros

"A framework convention or other international instrument could address this fundamental weakness by providing a solid foundation for enhanced cooperation, and we seek #Bahrain’s support for this important initiative"-@DrTedros #PandemicTreaty

"Once again, I assure you of WHO’s support for the Kingdom of #Bahrain, and our continuing commitment to work with you to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – here in Bahrain and around the world"-@DrTedros

🎉 The WHO Country Office in the Kingdom of #Bahrain is officially opened!

#HealthForAll