President addresses 73rd Session of the World Health Assembly

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, Monday, 18 May 2020, address the virtual 73rd Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA), at the invitation of the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom.

The WHA is the supreme policy decision-making body of the WHO, governed by its 194 Member States and consisting of health ministers. 

The WHA meets annually to discuss major policy questions and the work programme of the WHO. This year's meeting is conducted virtually, considering the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

President Ramaphosa has been invited to participate as a guest alongside the United Nations Secretary-General, H.E Mr Antonio Guterres; the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E Angela Merkel; the President of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Mr Moon Jae-in; and the Prime Minister of Barbados, H.E. Mia Amor Mottley.

The President will use this opportunity to call on the international community and all Member States to unite in global solidarity to tackle this global disease and to work together to develop solutions.

President Ramaphosa will also provide a brief account of the strategies implemented by South Africa and the broader African Union, which is chaired by South Africa.


Media enquiries: Spokesperson to the President, Khusela Diko on media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria