Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Science is a powerful tool, if we choose it, and use it. This #WorldHealthDay, @who has a simple message: Together for Health, #StandWithScience

It’s official: the #PandemicAccord is adopted by the World Health Assembly! My warmest congratulations to @who Member States for their commitment to keeping their people and the world safer. What a moment in global health history. Together!

As a proud father of a teenage daughter, Blen, I’m deeply grateful for the strides science has made to protect her and millions of other girls from a really deadly disease — #CervicalCancer. Thanks to safe and effective #HPV vaccines, this is a worry that can be eliminated from parents’ minds. However, not every girl is as fortunate. Despite the various safe vaccine options, many still don’t have access due to affordability and availability issues. HPV vaccine rollouts have faced setbacks, from global supply shortages since 2018 to production challenges earlier this year, leaving millions of girls — especially in Africa and Asia — without this critical protection. At @who , we are working day and night with partners to change this. Recently, WHO approved the use of a fourth HPV vaccine for use with a single dose, bringing us one step closer to eliminating cervical cancer and bridging the gap in vaccine access. On this #DayOfTheGirl, I urge all governments to invest in making HPV vaccines accessible and affordable. Vaccinating at least 90% of girls in your country can eliminate cervical cancer from our children’s futures. To vaccine manufacturers, I call on you to prioritise people over profits. Let’s ensure every girl, everywhere, has the chance to receive this vital protection. And to fellow parents — HPV vaccines are safe. They are a gift of protection, allowing our daughters to live healthy lives, chase their dreams, and be truly free.

When I took office as @who Director-General in 2017, we recognized WHO’s overreliance on voluntary contributions from a handful of donors as a major risk, and we took steps to mitigate it. As part of our broader transformation, we initiated a financial reform to broaden WHO’s revenue sources. Our Member States agreed to increase their fees (so-called assessed contributions) to reach 50% of our base budget, to be provided in five instalments. This reform helped cushion the impact of funding cuts, and following a prioritization and realignment process over the past 16 months - now complete, we have reached a position of stability and are moving forward. We now project that 90% of the base budget for the current biennium, 2026–2027, will be funded. As I told the media recently, systemic problems cannot be solved in a year or two. By building the broadest possible revenue source, we are laying the groundwork to prevent shocks like last year’s. Since 2022, two instalments have already been approved, and as the remaining three are to be approved over the next five years, the Organization will reach better stability and independence. A sustainably financed WHO is essential to promote, provide, and protect health, including by coordinating the international response to events such as the #hantavirus outbreak.

#Geneva

Dear people of Tenerife, Greetings from Geneva. It is Tedros again. Our work in Tenerife is done. And it was done with grace. ⬆️

Querido pueblo de Tenerife: Os saludo desde Ginebra. Os habla nuevamente Tedros. Nuestro trabajo en Tenerife ha concluido. Y se llevó a cabo con gran honor.

#Hantavirus update: As of 12 May, no new deaths have been reported since 2 May. Of the 11 total cases reported to @who , eight have been laboratory-confirmed as Andes virus infections. One remaining case is undergoing further testing. WHO continues to assess the risk to the global population as low. We remain in close contact with experts from all involved countries and continue to receive weekly reports on the health and well-being of passengers and crew through official IHR channels. International coordination continues to support efforts to protect public health.

Viruses do not respect borders. I thank Prime Minister @sanchezcastejon not only for meeting #Spain’s legal duty under international law, but also for exercising his moral duty to show solidarity with, and compassion and kindness for, the passengers on MV Hondius cruise ship. Our work is not over. @who will continue to work closely with experts in all affected countries. Our strongest immunity is solidarity.

@who ‘s assessment on #hantavirus continues to be that the risk to health globally is low. My latest update ⬆️

We live in a time when it is easy to close doors, to turn inward, to let fear harden into hostility. Tenerife and #Spain chose differently. You have written something into the record of how humanity responds to a crisis, and the @who will carry that record forward. Muchas gracias, Prime Minister @sanchezcastejon . 📸 @sanidadgob

España cumple. Siempre cumple. Con los nuestros y con el resto del mundo. Este es el país que somos. Y del que estamos orgullosos. Gracias, @drtedros , por tu liderazgo y por ser ejemplo de lo que significa la cooperación internacional