São Tomé, June 9th – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Principe celebrated the 50th anniversary of WHO’s presence in the country. This official ceremony organized in the Palais des Congres was chaired by His Excellency the Prime Minister, Dr. Américo Ramos in presence of the Minister of Health, Dr. Celso Matos, the WHO Representative, Dr. Abdoulaye Diarra and several other partners including the ambassadors members of the diplomatic corps, the heads of UN agencies, the staff of the ministry of Foreign Affairs, of the ministry of Health as well as the representatives of the civil society organizations, and the former and current WHO staff. The celebration was an opportunity to present to the audience WHO's key contributions to promoting, protecting and improving the health of the populations of Sao Tome e Principe.
In their official remarks, both the WHO Representative and the Prime Minister emphasized the importance and impact of the collaboration between the Organization and the country. According to WR, Dr Diarra “Over the past 50 years the partnership has been instrumental in the support provided to São Tomé and Principe in developing strategic health documents, in the strengthening institutional capacity, and in implementing priority health programs. This historic milestone not only celebrates past achievements but also sets a shared vision for a healthier, more resilient, and sustainable future for all people of São Tomé and Principe”.
The Prime Minister Dr. Américo Ramos commended WHO as an important strategic partner of the country, recognizing the Organization’s “critical role in providing technical support, in mobilizing resources, and in building more resilient health system.” He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to continue working closely with WHO to address current and future challenges, and particularly toward the achievement of Universal Health Coverage.
As part of the jubilee celebrations, a documentary film prepared by the WHO communication team was projected. This video presents WHO's main achievements as exposed by nationals themselves key actors and beneficiaries of these actions.
Another key moment the celebration was the acknowledgment of the fruitful and long-standing partnership of two key actors. This acknowledgment certificate was awarded to:
- The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), recognized for its outstanding performance in protecting the population against vaccine-preventable diseases, significantly contributing to the reduction of child mortality and the control of outbreaks. Sao Tome and Principe is among the countries of the African region with high vaccine coverage.
- The Government of São Tomé and Principe, for its continued commitment, support and facilitation of the work of WHO over the past 50 years.
The tribute to the EPI highlighted the crucial role of health workers and communities in expanding access to vaccines, ensuring that more children and families are protected. The recognition of the Government underscored the importance of political will and institutional collaboration as key drivers of WHO ‘success in implementing public health interventions.
As WHO marks 50 years of presence in São Tomé and Principe, it reaffirms its commitment to continue working hand in hand with the Government and partners to consolidate achievements and address emerging challenges. The Organization emphasized that investing in strong health systems, in prevention, in promotion with equity remains essential to ensure that no one is left behind in achieving universal health coverage.
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