President Lula and director-general of the WHO discuss strategic issues for Brazil

Lula and Tedros Adhanom talked about the WHO's support for Brazil in eliminating socially determined diseases, the partnership to supply Brazilian vaccines against dengue fever and Brazil's presidency of the G20

Published in Feb 06, 2024 11:30 AM Updated in Feb 14, 2024 04:57 PM

Health Minister Nísia Trindade, Director-General of the WHO Tedros Adhanom, President Lula and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Jarbas Barbosa - Credit: Ricardo Stuckert / PR

On Monday, February 5, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), at the Planalto Palace. President Lula, accompanied by Minister of Health Nísia Trindade, discussed strategic issues for Brazil with Adhanom, including WHO support for eliminating socially determined diseases, a partnership to supply vaccines against dengue fever, and Brazil's presidency of the G20 Health Working Group.

» High-resolution photos (Flickr)

Adhanom stated that the WHO intends to provide all possible assistance to Brazil in eliminating diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy, Chagas disease, and diseases transmitted from mother to child, such as HIV, in collaboration with the Brazilian government. Next Wednesday, February 7, he and Minister Nísia Trindade will launch the National Program for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases.

The director-general of the WHO and President Lula also discussed the presidency of the G20, which has a Health Working Group, and the conclusion of the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the drafting and negotiation of an international instrument for the prevention, preparedness and response to pandemics, in which Brazil acts as the representative of the Americas in the group responsible for coordinating the work.

Adhanom thanked President Lula for his support and asked that the G20 be allowed to discuss health financing.

Lula stressed that he believes there is a need for a better tax policy that can increase funding for the sector.

The two leaders also talked about a possible partnership in the production of the dengue vaccine, both at Butantan and Fiocruz. For the WHO director, Brazil could be a supplier of the immunizer.

About the WHO – The World Health Organization is the specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation in the area of health and has historically had great support from Brazil, which was one of the proponents of its creation. From 1953 to 1973, Brazilian Dr. Marcolino Candau headed the Organization.