The 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) will be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 18 -23 May. WHA is an annual decision-making meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO). It brings together representatives from all 194 WHO Member States to set global health policy, approve the organization’s budget and work program, and adopt resolutions that guide international public health action.

Last year's WHA passed resolution around major global health topics such as Pandemic Agreement, Sustainable WHO Financing, commitments to invest in healthcare workforce addressing shortages, retention and better wokring conditions. Making its debute, a resloution was passed adressing prevention and management of lung and kidney diseases. Other resolutions targeted air pollution, vision and hearing care, nutrition care and digital health strategy.

Expected areas of focus for this year's assembly will center around advancing health equity, updated action plans on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), climate change and health system resilience and innovation.

At the 78th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization, Lebanon was represented by an 11-member delegation from the Ministry of Public Health, academic institutions, and diplomatic sectors, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to global health engagement.