Closing Remarks by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the high-level side-event of the High-Level Political Forum “Investing in Health: The key to building back better from COVID-19 and accelerating progress for universal health coverage and sustainable development” Hosted by the Group of Friends of Universal Health Coverage and Global Health and the World Health Organization
2020/7/9
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to sincerely thank all the speakers and participants for sharing their invaluable inputs; best practices, lessons learned and suggestions. As we tackle this unprecedented human security crisis, we are truly encouraged by renewed commitment to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) as our leaders promised last September in their political declaration on UHC.
As we all heard today over and over again, UHC under a resilient and effective health system is one of the most critical factors in combatting COVID-19. UHC also lays the necessary foundation for achieving SDGs. It will remain critical for preventing the recurrence of any future pandemic and minimizing its social and economic impacts.
COVID-19 is seriously damaging people’s livelihood and dignity. In crawling forward through this unprecedented and unpredictable path, we need to always keep “people” at the center. In this connection, I would particularly like to highlight a call by Professor Takemi, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for UHC, for a new initiative to reinvigorate the evolving concept of human security.
We are encouraged by the plan announced by Madam Deputy Secretary-General for an upcoming SG policy brief on COVID-19 and UHC. Let us push this idea forward as a group and consider a joint statement to endorse and disseminate it if you agree. Finally, I would like to remind you that this friends group is always open to all the Member States, and we welcome your ideas and suggestions.
Thank you again and please stay safe and healthy.
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to sincerely thank all the speakers and participants for sharing their invaluable inputs; best practices, lessons learned and suggestions. As we tackle this unprecedented human security crisis, we are truly encouraged by renewed commitment to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) as our leaders promised last September in their political declaration on UHC.
As we all heard today over and over again, UHC under a resilient and effective health system is one of the most critical factors in combatting COVID-19. UHC also lays the necessary foundation for achieving SDGs. It will remain critical for preventing the recurrence of any future pandemic and minimizing its social and economic impacts.
COVID-19 is seriously damaging people’s livelihood and dignity. In crawling forward through this unprecedented and unpredictable path, we need to always keep “people” at the center. In this connection, I would particularly like to highlight a call by Professor Takemi, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for UHC, for a new initiative to reinvigorate the evolving concept of human security.
We are encouraged by the plan announced by Madam Deputy Secretary-General for an upcoming SG policy brief on COVID-19 and UHC. Let us push this idea forward as a group and consider a joint statement to endorse and disseminate it if you agree. Finally, I would like to remind you that this friends group is always open to all the Member States, and we welcome your ideas and suggestions.
Thank you again and please stay safe and healthy.