The General Committee, made up of 17 states, serves as the leading body of the World Health Assembly, which is the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Assembly, which convenes annually at WHO headquarters in Geneva, makes decisions on WHO policies, approves the budget, appoints the WHO Director-General, and performs other functions.

The Cuban delegation to the 79th World Health Assembly is headed by First Deputy Minister of Health, Tania Margarita Cruz.

As part of her agenda, the official met with South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, where both sides highlighted the deep historical bonds of brotherhood that have united their peoples since the struggle against Apartheid, according to a statement from the Cuban Foreign Ministry.

The South African representative emphasized the world’s admiration for the Cuban healthcare system, based on primary care, and conveyed his nation’s solidarity and firm support against the oil embargo imposed on the island by the United States government.

The Cuban First Deputy Minister also met with Chinese Health Minister Lei Haichao to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sector.

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