– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Tijjani Muhammad Bande, President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

22 September 2019

Your Excellencies

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

I am grateful for the invitation from the World Health Organization  to attend this event.

I appreciate the work the Organization does and promise the continued support of the Office of the President of the United Nations General Assembly.

I thank all the people that have come out today to participate in this activity. Being here today grants us all the opportunity to exercise and socialize, it more importantly presents us the opportunity to draw the attention of our community and the world to the important issue of health, and how making simple decisions can contribute to a healthier and more prosperous world. It is a truism that a healthier society is more enabled to respond to its human resources needs and expand its economy.

There is absolutely no doubt about the contributions that physical exercise can make in the life of a person. There is also no doubt about what changes can be achieved if we all rally around ourselves for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage by 2030.

I wish to use this platform to reiterate how important it is that people get unfettered access to health systems that guarantees their wellbeing, no matter where they live in the world. The work the World Health Organization does in this regard is crucial.

There is also no doubt about what changes can be achieved if we all rally around ourselves for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage by 2030

Tijjani Muhammad Bande

President of the UN General Assembly

While governments around the world have made appreciable gains in fighting diseases and ensuring access to health care facilities, there is need to do more to reach all that need help.

When I host the High-Level meeting on the Universal Health Coverage tomorrow, I will make the case to world leaders that it is important that they continue to partner with organizations, like the World Health Organization, while they deepen their cooperation with Governments around the world who have the means to assist in building equitable, efficient and resilient health systems.

Let me in conclusion thank you once again for you participation in this event and urge you all to do your best, as we strive to attain the Sustainable Development Goals together.

Thank you.