Switzerland: World Health Organization- Celebrity Status

This week I attended the World Health Assembly (WHA) at the WHO. The WHA is an annual meeting of the WHO’s member states.  The WHA appoints the WHO director general, directs the financial policies of the organization by approving the budget. The WHA also reviews reports from the WHO Executive Board and decides on additional action of the reports. This year focused on WHO reform and non-communicable diseases. I attended the address from the Director-General Margaret Chan, Bill Gates and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh (Sheikh Hasina). I also attended technical briefings where the members proposed amendments for various resolutions.

 I feel like I’m on a Hollywood film set. Every time I turn around I feel like there is another Minister of Health of some country. On the elevator? BAM there’s the Minister of Health from Ethiopia. Sit down for some coffee? BAM there’s the Ministers of Health from the EU just finishing up a meeting on health policy. Basically, global health superstars surround me. It takes every bit of self-control to not constantly have my camera at bay ready to snap pictures as soon as the next badass global health policymakers walk by. (Though I have to admit I have snapped a few inconspicuous, or at least what I thought was inconspicuous, pics here and there. Before people noticed there was even a flash, BAM, I was gone.)

In full disclosure, while I did see the terrific triad speak at this year’s WHA (terrific triad= Margaret Chan, Bill Gates and Sheikh Hasina) I was not fortunate enough to take that picture posted below. I was, however, able to take a picture of Margaret Chan from the 6^th floor balcony. She looks like a tiny, beautiful speck of glory in a sea of policymakers. And I did snap a picture of Bill Gates because I saw him up close and personal. (Or maybe that was a picture of Bill Gates projected onto a screen in a viewing room for us little guys. Meh.)

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