第74回国連総会議題126「国際保健と外交政策決議」に関する江副参事官ステートメント

Mister President,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
At the outset, Japan appreciates the effort of France in steering the intensive negotiations on the resolution on Global Health and Foreign Policy. This year’s resolution came at a critical time, namely, after the adoption of the political declaration of the high-level meeting on universal health coverage (UHC) at the General Assembly, which was approved by the heads of state and government on 23 September this year.
 
This resolution, entitled “an inclusive approach to strengthening health systems”, entails numerous relevant elements as it reaffirms the political declaration on UHC including the leaders’ commitment to cover all people with quality essential health services, and to eliminate impoverishment due to health-related expenses by 2030, among other critical commitments. 
 
As Prime Minister Abe stated in his closing remarks at the High-Level Meeting, Japan emphasizes the importance of achieving UHC globally, building on its own experience of managing UHC as a key to socio-economic development and to a healthy ageing society. Japan has sought to promote UHC both bilaterally and through global fora, including the G7 and most recently through the G20 presidency. Here in New York, Japan has also sought to build momentum and deepen understanding of UHC as the founding chair of the Group of Friends of UHC and Global Health.
 
 
Last week in Afghanistan, Dr. NAKAMURA Tetsu, a Japanese medical doctor, was among those killed in a tragic incident. Our deepest condolences. Dr. Nakamura dedicated his life for more than 30 years in the mountainous areas of Afghanistan as head of a civil society organization called Peshawarkai and Peace Japan Medical Services, serving the needs of marginalized and vulnerable people who had little access to health, water and nutritious food. He started his work in Afghanistan as a clinician treating patients, but seeing patients die not necessarily due to lack of access to medicine but due to malnutrition or diarrhea, he expanded his work to secure safe water and nutritious food, which clearly contributed to strengthening primary health care towards achieving UHC. Dr. Nakamura’s dedication embodies the core concept of human security, which is to leave no one behind. His legacy will continue to inspire tireless efforts around the world towards UHC, thereby helping to achieve the SDGs. May his soul rest in peace.
 
Japan stands ready to accelerate our efforts towards achieving UHC by 2030, leveraging relevant fora in 2020 including the Second UHC Forum in Thailand, the third replenishment meeting of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, in the United Kingdom, and the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit in Japan. These events will prepare us for the High Level Review Meeting on UHC in 2023 here in New York.
 
Finally, Japan would like to request that this resolution will continue to be an inclusive and relevant vehicle for promoting global health and foreign policy here in the United Nations. We therefore suggest that the selection of the theme, the drafting and the facilitation will be carefully conducted in a more inclusive, transparent and timely manner so that the resolution reinforces and supplements on-going discussions and commitments particularly with regard to relevant high-level meetings of the General Assembly. We would also like to suggest that the technical integrity will be maintained with close inputs from relevant technical agencies in particular the World Health Organization. Japan is pleased to co-sponsor this resolution with such requests and our commitment towards achieving UHC by 2030.
 
I thank you.