2023 was a yr of milestones and challenges in international public well being.
In Could, I declared an finish to COVID-19 as a public well being emergency of worldwide concern.
This marked a turning level for the world following three years of disaster, ache and loss for individuals in all places.
I’m glad to see that life has returned to regular.
WHO additionally introduced the Mpox outbreak now not represented a worldwide well being emergency.
And we permitted new vaccines for malaria, dengue and meningitis, ailments that threaten thousands and thousands all over the world, primarily probably the most weak.
Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Belize have been declared malaria-free, and a variety of uncared for tropical ailments have been eradicated in a number of international locations, together with sleeping illness in Ghana, trachoma in Benin, Mali and Iraq, and lymphatic filariasis in Bangladesh and Laos.
The trail to eradicating one other vaccine-preventable illness – polio – has reached its final mile.
Thirty extra international locations launched the HPV vaccine because the world advances in direction of eliminating cervical most cancers.
The necessity to handle the well being impacts of the local weather disaster have been elevated to the very best political ranges, with governments, scientists and advocates placing well being, for the primary time, prominently on the COP28 agenda, and issuing a worldwide declaration on local weather and well being.
Heads of state on the United Nations Common Meeting dedicated to advancing common well being protection, ending tuberculosis and defending the world from future pandemics.
Every of those achievements, and lots of extra, demonstrated the facility of science, options and solidarity to guard and promote well being.
However 2023 has additionally been a yr of immense and avoidable struggling and threats to well being.
The barbaric assaults by Hamas on Israel on October 7 left round 1,200 individuals useless and greater than 200 taken hostage. Stories of gender-based violence and mistreatment of hostages are deplorable.
This was adopted by the unleashing of a devastating assault on Gaza, which has killed greater than 21,000 individuals – primarily girls and kids – and injured over 55,000.
On the similar time, hospitals and well being employees have been repeatedly attacked, whereas aid efforts should not coming near assembly the wants of individuals.
As of December 22, solely 9 of 36 well being services in Gaza have been partially purposeful, with solely 4 providing probably the most fundamental of companies within the north.
Because of this, we name once more for a right away ceasefire.
Battle and armed hostilities, sadly, have plagued too many different places all over the world, together with Sudan, Ukraine, Ethiopia and Myanmar, to call however a number of.
I noticed first-hand the struggling of war-weary individuals in northwest Syria who, like communities I additionally visited in neighbouring Türkiye, have been devastated by the horrible earthquake in February.
With out peace, there isn’t a well being, and with out well being, there will be no peace.
Insecurity, poverty and lack of entry to wash water and hygiene fanned the unfold of infectious ailments in lots of international locations.
The resurgence of cholera is particularly regarding, with a document variety of 40-plus outbreaks all over the world.
And when it comes to emergency preparedness and response, gaps stay on the planet’s readiness to stop the following pandemic.
However 2024 affords a novel alternative to deal with these gaps.
Governments are negotiating the first-ever international settlement to guard communities, international locations and the world from the menace posed by pandemics.
The Pandemic Accord is being designed to bridge the gaps in international collaboration, cooperation and fairness.
The accord, and plans to strengthen the Worldwide Well being Rules, signify monumental actions by governments to create a safer and more healthy world.
And as WHO closes out our seventy fifth yr because the “world’s” well being organisation, I prolong by my honest gratitude to well being employees, companions and WHO colleagues, on our shared journey to realize Well being for All.
Lastly, throughout this vacation season, I’m positive that everybody will be part of me in hoping that the New Yr will convey peace, well being and prosperity for all individuals all over the world.
The views expressed on this article are the creator’s personal and don’t essentially replicate Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.