Opening address by H.E. Dr Ali Haji Abubakar Minister of Health of Somalia to the Seventy-first …
Your Excellencies,
Regional Director, Dr Hanan Balkhy
Distinguished guests,
Assalamu Alaikum, Good morning,
It is with profound gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today as the Federal Minister of Health of our beloved nation, Somalia, and as Chair of the seventieth session of the Regional Committee held last year in Cairo. In conducting this role, I have consistently reminded myself that our journey towards a healthier, more resilient region is not just a professional duty, but a personal commitment to each of us as Minister of Health.
Before I proceed, let us reflect on yesterday’s inspiring “Walk the Talk” event, a testament to Qatar’s dedication to the connection between health and sports. It was a powerful reminder of physical activity’s role in promoting well-being and preventing non-communicable diseases.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
This year, our Regional Committee is meeting under the shadow of escalating war perpetrated by Israel which has claimed and maimed tens of thousands of innocent civilians, the majority of whom are women and children, not to mention the huge destruction of properties including health facilities, electricity’s, water sources and sewerage systems. The wanton attack on health facilities and the killing of hundreds of health workers are clear violations of Humanitarian Law, the Geneva Convention, and WHO resolutions. We condemn such a blatant violation of international law and call upon the international community to work for an unconditional ceasefire and peaceful resolution of the long-standing issue of the State of Palestine.
The recent escalation of violence in Lebanon, as well