Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson paid a courtesy call today on the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the WHO Director General and the Head of Barbados’ Mission in Geneva to engage on matters of mutual interest.
Some of the items discussed included the bases of financing of the WHO; the ongoing work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response; multilateral initiatives to foster collaboration, particularly among developing countries, like the proposed action on Pharmaceutical Equity for Global Public Health, spearheaded by Barbados, Guyana and Rwanda; and response to issues such as non-communicable diseases.
The two officials also reflected on the impact and contribution of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley in advancing public goods, particularly around the discourse on vaccine access.
The WHO Head also reflected on the official visit of the Prime Minister to WHO Headquarters in March. It was on that occasion that Prime Minister Mottley presented, as a donation, artwork to be displayed in the newly refurbished building.