Friday, 06 February 2026
WHO Director-General's closing remarks at the 158th session of the Executive Board – 6 February 2026
https://www.who.int/news-room/speeches/item/who-director-general-s-closing-remarks-at-the-158th-session-of-the-executive-board---6-february-2026
Chair, Secretary Blair Comley,
Our vice-chairs, Honourable Ministers, Ambassadors, heads of delegation, members of the Executive Board, dear colleagues and friends,
Chair Comley, thank you for your leadership this week, and for managing such a full agenda ahead of schedule.
Thank you to all Member States for your engagement, which reflects the value you place on WHO and its work.
From NCDs and mental health to TB, rare diseases, neglected tropical diseases, AMR, UHC, polio, emergencies and more, you have highlighted some of the many issues that transcend national borders and that require a coordinated international response.
Thank you also for the attention you have given to governance reform. As I said at the beginning of the week, a more efficient and effective WHO means reform to both the Secretariat and the governance that Member States provide – and thank you again to Secretary Blair.
Thank you for the guidance you have given, the consensus you have forged, and the commitment you have demonstrated to WHO.
Your Secretariat remains fully committed to following your guidance, and supporting all Member States.
Our prioritization and realignment has helped to give us clarity – clarity about where WHO has the greatest comparative advantage and adds the greatest value.
We are now moving forward as a leaner Secretariat, focused on leveraging that comparative advantage and delivering that value, with clarity for our future.
The prioritization and realignment process, as you know, has not been easy. It has affected all of us, and I wish to thank once again the members of staff we could not keep for their dedication and professionalism.
I also thank all staff who are still with us for their continuing commitment.
We remain committed to the principles we applied through the process: fairness, transparency and humanity.
We also thank the Board for the mandate you have given us to move ahead with convening discussions about the global health architecture, or ecosystem.
We look forward to continuing the discussions with Member States and partners about how to ensure that collectively, we avoid overlaps and duplication, and deliver results for the countries and people we serve.
Chair, let me finish with a quote from a famous compatriot of yours, Professor Fred Hollows. I also know him personally – a great Australian.
For those who don’t know, Professor Hollows was an ophthalmologist who did extensive work helping people with trachoma and other eye conditions in indigenous communities in Australia, as well as in Nepal, Eritrea and Viet Nam.
Today, his foundation continues his work in many countries around the world.
Fred said, “We discover our own humanity when we help others.”
That’s why we’re here – to help humanity; to help our sisters and brothers around the world who face threats to their health of all kinds.
That’s the mission to which I and WHO’s staff around the world remain committed: the highest attainable standard of health for all people.
Thank you for your continuing commitment to that mission – a blessed mission – and your trust in WHO, and your confidence. I have seen it during this meeting. Thank you so much for your support.
I wish you a safe journey home.
I thank you.
