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World Health Assembly opens in Geneva, Switzerland

© WHO / Antoine Tardy

High-level welcome of the 79th World Health Assembly at the Assembly Hall at Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on 18 May 2026.

© Credits

The Seventy-ninth session of the World Health Assembly (WHA79) opened in Geneva, Switzerland today, with the election of Dr Víctor Elías Atallah Lajam of the Dominican Republic as the President of the Health Assembly.

The elected Vice-Presidents are Dr Mohamed Ali Al-Ghouj of Libya, Dr Assa Badiallo Touré of Mali, Mrs Katarzyna Drążek -Laskowska of Poland, Mrs Neesha Mehta of Nepal, and Mr Elias Kapavore of Papua New Guinea. Dr Timur Sultangaziyev of Kazakhstan and Dr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh of Ghana are the Chairs of the Committee A and Committee B, respectively.

During the high-level welcome, H.E. Elisabeth Baume‑Schneider, Federal Councillor of the Swiss Confederation, addressed the Health Assembly on behalf of the host country, followed by remarks from H.E.…