Honorable Minister, Regional Director, Rectors, valued students, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you about some of the most pressing health concerns facing us in the European Region, and the work that is being done to address them. I was delighted to be able to accept the invitation of your Minister of Health to visit Moldova, extended during her participation at the 66th session of the Regional Committee for Europe in September this year.

As you may know, important decisions and resolutions were agreed at this Committee session – the annual decision-making meeting for ministers of health of the 53 countries in the European Region.

Resolutions were adopted calling for accelerated action and stronger political commitment on refugee and migrant health, women’s health, sexual and reproductive health, non-communicable diseases, HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, integrated health services and the use of data in public health.

As Patron of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, I am committed, along with many others, to help improve the health and well-being of the 900 million people in the European Region, including the citizens of Moldova.

Together with Dr. Jakab, the WHO Regional Director for Europe, my focus during this visit is to raise public awareness about mother and child health care, immunization, as well as tackling the growing, global threat of antimicrobial resistance.

WHO defines public health as “the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts of society”. That is, to promote greater health and well-being in a sustainable way. In order to achieve this vision, the public health approach involves working with other sectors to address the wider determinants of health, and with health professionals, in particular primary health care professionals.

Last year, countries around the world committed to an ambitious agenda for sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity and seeks to ensure that “No One is Left Behind”. This is at the heart of your work, and the work of all health professionals – whether they work in clinical settings with individual patients or provide public health services to larger communities.

It also complements the vision of Health 2020, our European “umbrella” policy framework for health and well-being, with its aim to reduce health inequalities and strengthen participatory governance for health.

Across the WHO European Region, although we enjoy better health than ever before, many complex challenges affect health. As countries, communities and individuals we face economic crisis, widening inequalities, an ageing population, the emergence or re-emergence of some communicable diseases, the burden of non-communicable diseases, migration and urbanization, environmental damage and climate change.

I am pleased to learn that with WHO’s assistance, Moldova acknowledges and is addressing these challenges. You have developed and endorsed a National Public Health Strategy for 2014-2020, and your public health reform agenda is progressing, with multiple partners engaged.

It is also encouraging to see the progress being made in key areas, for example; the development and approval of a national program for immunization 2016-2020 and the introduction of a number of new vaccines since 2012, the development of specific strategies and policy papers related to sexual and reproductive health, as well as for antimicrobial resistance and the prudent use of antibiotics.

I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the contribution made by the WHO Regional Office for Europe in providing support to Member States in adopting sound public health policies, strategies and action plans. Moldova is taking important steps to align its national policies with regional guidance to better meet the health needs of its citizens and communities.

As future health leaders, you have a great responsibility. The Medical and Pharmaceutical State University and the School of Public Management in Health have supported you in obtaining the knowledge and skills required to address inequalities in health, strengthen health governance and thus move the Health 2020 agenda forward.

Together we can build a society where “no one is left behind” and where the highest attainable standard of health is enjoyed by all, at all life stages. You are part of the ambitious health reform being undertaken in your country, reforms that will benefit the health of current and future generations.

I wish you all great success in your endeavors.  

Thank you!