Darias claims the role of women in achieving a peaceful world and attaining optimum levels of well-being and health

Darias defended United Nations Resolution 1325, which recognises the role of women in conflict resolution, because "the struggle for equality is, has been and will be the driving force to achieve a better world".

Darias stressed that "the world needs peace" to face present and future health challenges, such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic, mental health problems, contagious and non-contagious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, climate change and its direct impact on our health, among others.

During her speech at the plenary session of the 75th World Health Assembly, which is being held in Geneva, the minister pointed out that the chosen motto, "Health for Peace, Peace for Health", sets the horizon of hope that humanity yearns to achieve.

Darias began by expressing Spain's condemnation of Russia's invasion and aggression against Ukraine, provoking an unjustified and illegal war, and by sharing our country's collaboration with the European authorities and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to bring health material to Ukraine, donate medicines and make thousands of hospital and paediatric beds available.

In this regard, she pointed out the fatal consequences that any conflict has on our lives and health, with attacks on hospitals or medical missions depriving us of the basic right to health and health care. Thus, the 100,000 Ukrainian citizens who have arrived in Spain have a health card that guarantees them universal coverage.

Spain's commitment to the WHO

The Minister also expressed Spain's support for the candidacy of Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in his re-election as Director-General, and also for the World Health Organisation's (WHO) ongoing work to continue promoting a strong Organisation that tirelessly leads efforts in preparedness and response to health emergencies.

Darias pointed out that COVID-19 has taught us important lessons, such as the need to direct our efforts towards guaranteeing global health and improving our health capacities, citing as an example the development of vaccines and the COVAX mechanism for guaranteeing access to them.

The overall objective, she added, is to reach 70% of the world's population vaccinated against COVID and explained Spain's commitment, vaccinating 92% of the population and occupying the first positions in solidarity donations, with 70 million doses.

The value of the public

The minister also assured that the COVID health crisis has made us even more aware of the value of public health and the need to strengthen national health systems, from primary care to specialised care, promoting new technologies and putting an end to the stigma and discrimination that affect the population affected by diseases such as HIV.

Last, to address future health threats, she called for further progress in the development of the International Health Regulations and the International Pandemic Agreement.

"The global health of the planet is our shared commitment. Let us continue to work together to achieve this. As Gandhi said, peace is the way. And health is the right that guarantees life all along the way," she concluded.

Non official translation