The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday at the World Health Summit signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNITE, Parliamentarians Network for Global Health.
In a statement released by WHO, the MoU was signed by 40 parliamentarians from 30 different countries.
The world health organisation said this represents a new step in strengthening WHO engagement with parliaments.
“With this agreement, UNITE commits to support WHO in raising awareness and building capacity of parliamentarians in three strategic areas of global public health.
“Equitable access to health, with a focus on universal health coverage; health system strengthening, with a focus on supporting sustainable financing for global health.
“And efficient global health architecture and security, with a focus on the creation of the global health architecture and security, and the promotion of the pandemic treaty,” the organisation said.
Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, said the parliaments play a vital role in promoting and protecting health, by putting in place the legislative, regulatory and budgetary measures that can prevent diseases, and create the conditions for health to thrive.
“WHO is committed to working with parliaments and parliamentary platforms.
“We welcome the collaboration with UNITE, which will be instrumental in mobilising parliamentary support, in particular for sustainable financing and strengthening the global health architecture,” Ghebreyesus said.
Dr Ricardo Leite, President and Founder of UNITE said that for the last five years, the network has been actively promoting evidence-based policy-making, in an effort led by our members from more than 85 countries.
“For current and former members of parliaments, congresses and senates from around the world.
“We are committed to ensuring that our actions, as politicians and agents for change, lead to a more equitable society in which no one is left behind.
” UNITE envisions this collaboration as an opportunity to ensure that trustworthy scientific recommendations are delivered to parliamentarians, leading towards new laws and policies that ensure Health is a reality for all.
“This partnership will empower both UNITE and WHO in achieving our ambitions goals together,” Leite said.