Visit of the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is making a visit to Brazil from February 5th to 7th. The Director-General was received today by the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, accompanied by the Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade. He will have a meeting on the 7th with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira. On the same day, together with the Minister of Health, he will participate in the launch of the National Program for the elimination of socially determined diseases.

During his visit, issues of strategic importance to Brazil this year will be addressed: the G20 presidency, which has a Health Working Group, and the conclusion of the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body in the development and negotiation of an international instrument for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, in which Brazil acts as the representative of the Americas in the group responsible for coordinating the work.

The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for promoting international cooperation in the health sector and has historically received significant support from Brazil, which was one of the proponents of its creation. From 1953 to 1973, the Brazilian Dr. Marcolino Candau directed the Organization.