SZwanglos – Following Feed

Pleased to meet with Dr. @hans_kluge, Regional Director of @WHO_Europe in #Copenhagen and to sign the 2026–2027 Action Plan for the implementation of the OTS–WHO/Europe MoU. This new phase of cooperation advances health security, emergency preparedness, digital health, non-communicable disease prevention, sustainable healthcare systems, climate-health initiatives, and healthy aging across the Turkic World. Moving from framework to concrete regional impact through structured multilateral partnership. @Turkic_States @WHO_Europe #OTS #TurkicWorld #HealthDiplomacy #GlobalHealth #SustainableDevelopment

I was glad to have Türkiye’s Ambassador to Denmark, Mr Rıza Hakan Tekin, with us today. I thanked 🇹🇷 for its commitment to strengthening regional health cooperation, and for hosting the @WHO European Centre for Preparedness for Humanitarian and Health Emergencies – an essential hub that has been instrumental in delivering a number of joint projects involving @Turkic_States. 3/3

I thanked Ambassador @KubanOmurali for keeping health high on the political agenda, and for translating that commitment into concrete decisions through @Turkic_States summit outcomes and ministerial processes, including the #Bishkek Declaration. We also discussed ways to support OTS Member States in addressing climate-related health challenges in the Aral Sea and Caspian Sea regions, and I look forward to continuing this conversation at the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 in April in #Astana. 2/3

Today at @UNCityCPH, Ambassador @KubanOmurali and I signed the 2026–2027 Action Plan to implement the Memorandum of Understanding between @Turkic_States and @WHO_Europe. It sets out practical cooperation - from strengthening emergency preparedness and response to addressing tuberculosis, noncommunicable diseases, healthy ageing, digital health and innovation, and the climate–health link. 1/3 @azmissiongeneva | @KazakhPM_UNOG | @KGMissiontoUNOG | @TC_BMCenevreDT | @uzbekistanun

The WHO/Europe–EUPHA partnership is built on action: supporting professionals, defending evidence, and driving momentum amid funding cuts and growing health needs. In my meeting with EUPHA Executive Director Charlotte Marchandise and Deputy Director Julian Hein, I thanked @EUPHActs and its members for being trusted and committed partners in shaping the future of public health in the European Region. Together, we are strengthening public health leadership, workforce development, and expanding meaningful youth engagement - while accelerating action on mental health and noncommunicable diseases. Next, we will deepen our partnership on mental health, healthy ageing, tackle mis- and dis-information, apply behavioural insights and engage more closely with countries. #HealthForAll

The signing ceremony took place as part of Minister Sala’s visit to the WHO Regional Office and celebration of the Albania Country Day at @UNCityCPH. It was a good chance to connect her delegation directly with our technical teams and agree on the first practical next steps for delivery. We also explored Albania’s proposal to host a public health knowledge centre in Tirana – to support shared learning and technical cooperation across the Western Balkans, in line with our regional priorities. I look forward to continuing this dialogue with Minister @EvisSala and to visiting 🇦🇱 to review progress together. 2/2

Today, I signed a Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA) with Dr @EvisSala, Albania’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, setting our joint priorities for the next two years. We will work together on: ▶️ 🇦🇱’s health priorities linked to EU accession ▶️ Strengthening primary health care ▶️ Addressing noncommunicable diseases, including better cancer prevention and early detection ▶️ Advancing digital health and health information ▶️ Strengthening mental health ▶️ Improving preparedness for health emergencies and pandemics ▶️ Taking stronger action to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG) online. I welcomed Minister Sala’s readiness to take a subregional leadership role in preventing VAWG in the digital space. 1/2

Long COVID hasn’t disappeared. People continue to develop it after new infections—yet the myth that it’s “over” still persists. Bára’s story shows the reality: after her 3rd COVID‑19 infection in 2025, she became house‑bound with severe fatigue and heart issues.

📢 Join us on 11 March for the launch of the French version of WHO’s free online course for informal caregivers 💡 Self-care & practical care skills 🌐 Trusted resources 🤝 Developed with EU support & Eurocarers Caregivers deserve support, too. Register https://bit.ly/4apFwv1

🚶‍♀️🚴‍♂️ Active school journeys = healthier minds! Teens who walk or cycle to school are less likely to experience depressive symptoms compared with those who rely on cars or buses. 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4jQYCgB #EHP #ECEHBonn #THEPEP #LetsGetMoving #7MCEH #EPW2

Vaccines reduce a person’s risk of severe disease and of developing long COVID. Yet, myths twist this fact. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4jQYCgB

Ongoing preventable deaths, armed conflicts, and forced displacement & migration - these are 3 reasons why the European Region should still worry about tuberculosis (TB). In a joint commentary with Prof Madhukar Pai, Chair of the Global & Public Health Department at @mcgillu, for @TheLancet, we call to: ▶️ Strengthen prevention, early detection & treatment, esp. for drug-resistant TB. ▶️Sustain financing, invest in TB services & the health workforce – every $1 invested in TB is estimated to yield $46 in benefits. ▶️Stay engaged globally, because TB anywhere is TB everywhere. Cutting funds, withdrawing from multilateralism, and looking inward is not the solution. Read the commentary here: https://bit.ly/4awB6Bm

Submit your abstract to the HEPA EUROPE 2026 conference: https://bit.ly/4rTvNmw Deadline: 15 March 2026

Kazakhstan continues to lead PHC reform. On 17 February, Advisor Alexey Tsoy met with the Centre’s team to discuss next-generation PHC priorities, from multidisciplinary teams to AI-enabled solutions. Read more: https://bit.ly/4tIce2m

Today we issued the first-ever policy brief on safe nurse staffing – setting out concrete actions to ease the pressure from nurse shortages, rising care needs and burnout. As nurses make up 56% of the health workforce in the European Region, their safe staffing is critical for patient safety and for the entire health system. Backed by global evidence and real examples from 21 countries in the EU-funded Nursing Action project, the brief identifies 8 policy actions – from improving staffing and workload data, to investing in education & training, strengthening monitoring & transparent reporting, and supporting nurse leadership. Read the brief: https://bit.ly/4rZ66B7 Our press release: https://bit.ly/4atDeK0

Where a child lives should never determine whether they survive cancer! Yet survival rates still vary widely across countries. The solution is not fear—it’s policy, partnership and preparedness. #GICC #ChildhoodCancer #HealthEquity