Opinion
18 Dec 23

President Michael D Higgins releases statement following meeting with WHO executives

In February 2022, President Higgins wrote to Dr Ghebreyesus to demonstrate his support for a sustainably financed WHO, and the importance of international cooperation in overcoming global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Michael D. Higgins has released a statement following his meeting with the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, at Áras an Uachtaráin.

Also in attendance were WHO Executive Director for Emergencies Dr Mike Ryan and WHO Technical Officer Dr Cindi Lewis.

“It would be difficult to overestimate the importance of the contribution Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus and his team are making to humanity, and how it is giving all of us hope in what are the most horrific of times in terms of loss of civilian life," said the President. That work deserves our unreserved support."

According to the statement, Dr Ghebreyesus and Dr Ryan, urged for the "vital need" for increased medical supplies to those suffering in Gaza.

President Higgins today met with @WHO Director General @DrTedros, Executive Director for Emergencies Dr Mike Ryan and Technical Officer Dr Cindi Lewis at Áras an Uachtaráin. Full statement: https://t.co/OljR4vEKWg pic.twitter.com/aNelUveeQi

— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) December 18, 2023

"Every day that continues without a ceasefire is an assent to the death of civilians, such a large proportion of whom are children," the statement continued.

"We hear too of mothers giving birth in the most impossible of situations. It is important that the world turns its eyes to Gaza, these are happenings from which it cannot avert its gaze."

Elsewhere, they discussed the "interralted risks" of climate change, hunger, forced migration and disease and the effect they have on "fragile, conflict addected and "vulnerable settings."

"In too many places across the world, as Dr Ryan has highlighted, we are seeing the long-established principles of international law being not only abandoned, but actively subverted, including the use of gender based and sexual violence.

"It is therefore very important that all of us engage in the debate on the underlying principles which are required in order to deal with future pandemics, including in discussions around a draft treaty on pandemic preparedness, such as that being proposed by the WHO.”