Swiss President addresses WHO anniversary meeting

The annual assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) has opened in the Swiss city of Geneva, focusing on improving access to medical services. The five-day meeting, which comes amid a new outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo hopes to adopt a strategic plan to help countries meet the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. An estimated 100 million people are pushed into poverty by health costs according to a report by the WHO and the World Bank. Addressing the assembly on Monday, Swiss President Alain Berset praised the organisation for its efforts to promote vaccination campaigns worldwide and combat the anti-immune deficiency syndrome, AIDS. He said health was a fundamental pillar for prosperity, peace and security human. He added Switzerland supported efforts to provide health services to particularly vulnerable people around the world. The WHO was set up by the United Nations 70 years ago. It has a staff of more than 7,000 ...