Expo 2020 Dubai hosted the World Health Organisation’s celebration of the Universal Health Coverage Day. The celebrations on 12th December were under the theme "Leave no one's health behind: invest in health systems for all".

On this occasion, one day was devoted by Expo 2020 Dubai for celebrating the global efforts towards universal health coverage and proceeding the sustainable development goals (SDGs) for global prosperity. The ceremony was attended by Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General the Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, Dr. Hussein Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Public Health Sector, and officials from the government health sector.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom, WHO Director-General, Dr. Ahmed Al Mandhari, WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, and a number of officials in the health sector and WHO also attended the ceremony. An elite group of international speakers also were attendees. They shared their insights and aspirations on universal coverage and plans on creating a healthy environment for communities.

The event is a global platform providing a perfect opportunity for decision-makers and representatives of organisations and pavilions of more than 100 countries who are participating in Expo 2020 Dubai to discuss future strategies, for developing a global universal health coverage system, enhancing nations’ abilities to provide positive initiatives for communities. It also provides an opportunity to forge permanent partnerships for facing the challenges in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Al Owais welcomed WHO Director-General and all the attendees in his speech, thanking the organisation and its staff for their tremendous efforts in developing cooperation opportunities among the Member States. "Our common goal today is to continue working to strengthen cooperation as part of our endeavors to realise universal health coverage. This is achieved by joining forces, exchanging experiences, taking advantage of all available tools and resources and harnessing knowledge and technology, and everything that would contribute to raising the level of health care services and access to quality healthy life," Al Owais added.

"The UAE, through the hosting of this global event, would like to reaffirm its keenness to promote synergy among member states, to move towards achieving sustainable development and quality health care in the world, in addition to playing an effective and impactful role in supporting the efforts of the World Health Organisation," Al Owais stated.

He added that the celebration coincides with the celebrations of UAE's golden jubilee. He added that this stage strives to achieve a model shift in its development march, prepare plans, and foresee the future of the next fifty years.

Dr. Hussain Al Rand commended the remarkable efforts by WHO to achieve universal health coverage and fight the Covid-19 pandemic and various strains of the virus.

Al Rand further highlighted how event is critical in building joint global strategies to support equitable access to universal health coverage, especially vaccines, treatments, and health services based on principles of solidarity and sustainability. 

WAM