Bahrain's Minister of Health Dr Jaleela bint Alsayed Jawad Hasan and WHO’s Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Photo credit: WHO/Pierre Albouy27 May 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – The Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly (WHA78), held from 19 to 27 May 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland under the theme One World for Health, reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to equity and solidarity — ensuring that everyone, everywhere, has a fair chance at a healthy life.
H.E. the Minister of Health of Bahrain Dr Jaleela bint Alsayed Jawad Hasan was elected as Vice President of WHA78, representing the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Highlights of WHA78 included the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement following 3 years of negotiations launched due to the COVID-19 response.
“The world is safer today thanks to the leadership, collaboration and commitment of our Member States to adopt the historic WHO Pandemic Agreement,” said World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
During a high-level pledging event, global leaders reaffirmed their commitment to WHO by pledging at least US$ 170 million to the Organization’s Investment Round, supporting WHO’s base budget over the next 4 years. Member States also approved an increase in Assessed Contributions (membership fees), adding an additional US$ 90 million a year in income, marking an important step on WHO’s journey towards sustainable financing.
Committee A Chair Dr Esperance Luvindao of Namibia; WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; WHO Deputy Director-General and Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme Dr Michael Ryan. Photo credit: WHO/Christopher Black. 
Bahrain's Minister of Health H.E. Dr Jaleela bint Alsayed Jawad Hasan and WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balky. Photo credit: WHO/WHO EMRO.WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Dr Jaleela bint Alsayed Jawad Hasan in Geneva.
“We discussed a range of activities including Bahrain's robust primary health care system and recent efforts to build an effective vaccine management system,” said Dr Balkhy, “and I am looking forward to my first official visit to Bahrain in August.”