17 October 2025
Your Excellencies, Ministers of Health and Heads of Delegations,
Distinguished colleagues and partners,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for the engagement and energy you have brought to this seventy-second session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Over the course of three days, we have achieved significant outcomes: five critical resolutions adopted, a call to action on breast cancer unanimously endorsed, and progress in addressing the use of new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products in our Region.
You have also provided valuable reflections on the works of the Organization—including programme implementation, budget, and governance matters.
We received updates on the collective efforts towards polio eradication in the Region and the ongoing cooperation among countries to achieve this important goal, reaffirming our shared determination to end this disease once and for all.
Thank you all for your time, insights, and contributions—and my sincere appreciation to His Excellency Dr Salih Al-Hasnawi for his able and steady leadership as Chair, and to Their Excellencies, the Ministers of Health of Syria and Sudan, for serving as Vice-Chairs during this session.
I also wish to thank the EMRO team whose dedication and compassion drive our success and make a lasting difference for millions of people across the Region. I would especially like to thank the team of interpreters and translators for their outstanding efforts.
Excellencies,
I look forward to seeing you all again at the 73rd Session of the Regional Committee next year, and before that at the meetings of the Executive Council in February and the World Health Assembly in May, where we will continue these discussions and represent the Eastern Mediterranean Region and our work to other Member States and global partners.
Until then, I wish you safe travels home and continued success in your efforts to achieve health for all.
