More than 260 of WHO’s leaders from headquarters, regional and country offices gathered in Geneva to discuss how to transform WHO into an organization that is better able to deliver meaningful improvements in health to the world’s people.

It was first time that WHO’s new Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with all senior leadership in the same room.

Ninth bi-annual Global Meeting of heads of WHO country offices drove an agenda to return WHO’s focus to strengthen its work at country level.

Shambhu Acharya, WHO’s Director of Country Cooperation and Coordination with the United Nations System said, “This was an unprecedented opportunity to have leadership from all levels, including the most recent senior leaders to join the WHO team, together at one time to chart the future course of our work in countries throughout the world. There was a real spirit of energy and appetite for change, you could feel it in in the discussions and working groups throughout the three days.”

The meeting also included contributions from key partners, including the United Nations Development Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross, GAVI and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, who all expressed their renewed commitment to working with WHO to tackle global health challenges.

Throughout the meeting leaders from headquarters, regional and country offices discussed the specific challenges and solutions to WHOs work at country level. They debated what it will take to deliver on the proposed priorities and direction of the Organization’s work for the next five years.

Dr Piedad Huerta, WHO Representative in Honduras said, “I know one thing that impacted and impressed Heads of Country was that Dr Tedros was there throughout the entire meeting. He didn’t just drop in and out at the beginning and end. We had a variety of positions and opinions, regardless of what they were, he was listening.”

“I am proud of everything we have accomplished together in the past four months. And I am excited about everything we can achieve together in the months and years ahead. One thing that is clear to me is that you are all proud to work for WHO. So am I. We have a unique mission. I am more determined than ever to work with you all to harness the extraordinary potential of this organization to make meaningful change in our world. Please join me on that mission”, Dr Tedros added.