On 23 and 24 May 2016, Luxembourg Minister of Health, Lydia Mutsch, participated in the 69th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA), the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which brought together over 3,000 participants from 194 different countries.

This year the meeting was held under the theme of Sustainable Development 2030 and topics included child obesity, ageing, WHO reform issues and the fight against antibiotic resistance.

Minister Mutsch addressed the plenary, stressing that "Luxembourg is convinced of the added value of using a multisectoral and participatory approach for the efficient and effective implementation of Agenda 2030", before saying of the reform initiated by the WHO: "Courageous decisions remain to be accomplished before achieving a reform which enables the WHO to be more effective in the future."

On Monday 23 May 2016, the Minister intervened during a minsterial panel devoted to dementia at the invitation of her Swiss counterpart, Alain Berset. The motivation behind the panel was to generate international momentum faced with the challenges of this disease.

Minister Mutsch highlighted the disease in its Luxembourg context, as a primary national priority and a priority during the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2015.

"Dementia is not only a challenge in Europe. We shouldn't forget that also low and middle-income countries are faced with the burden of this disease," the Minister explained. "We therefore need a global and coherent approach. In other words: we need the WHO to put forward a comprehensive action plan in order to reach out to all Member States worldwide."

The Minister was also able to talk with the Secretary of State, Martin Van Rijn, on Dutch efforts in place to foster a society that respects people with dementia, before discussing joint action to educate young people on dementia.

At a bilateral meeting, Lydia Mutsch further reiterated the continued support of the Luxembourg government to Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of the United Nations programme designed to coordinate the activities of various specilaised UN agencies to fight against HIV/AIDS.

 

Photo by MSAN (L-R): Martin Van Rijn; Lydia Mutsch