WCC NEWS: At World Health Assembly, WCC delegation shows churches are crucial to global wellness

An ecumenical delegation led by the World Council of Churches (WCC) participated in the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva from 27 May-1 June under the theme “All for Health, Health for All.” Members of the specialist Covid response team at the Heal Africa hospital in Goma. Congo DRC. The hospital has dealt with the Ebola crisis and is now dealing with the Covid crisis through a specialist isolation and ICU unit.  Photo: Sean Hawkey/Life on Earth 30 May 2024 Experts discussed current and future priorities for public health issues of global importance.  Dr Manoj Kurian, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing, expressed gratitude for the learnings and insights the WCC delegation gleaned from the World Health Assembly.  “Hearing from experts about the trends and decisions on public health policies proved very valuable to the work of the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing,” he said. “The WCC also had the opportunity to share with others about our work, particularly sharing how churches help meet health needs in local communities in crucial ways.”  Julia Stoffner, health policy advisor from Brot für die Welt, who was also part of the WCC delegation, reflected on the significant contributions churches and faith-based groups make with regard to global health and wellness. “Around the globe, Christian organizations have provide healthcare, especially in rural areas and other hard-to-reach areas,” she said. “In these contexts, their contributions are very important to WHO.” The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization. Held annually, it is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine WHO policies, appoint the WHO director-general, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.  The WCC has had 50 years of collaboration with WHO, with their work together involving strategizing, publications, seminars, webinars, and responding to crises such as HIV, the Ebola outbreak, and COVID-19 pandemic.  Members of the ecumenical delegation led by the WCC included: Sr Belaynesh Abera Belocha, from Ethiopia, a member of the Medical Mission Sisters  Dr Nelci Zanon Collange, MD, president-elect of the Brazilian Association of Women in Medicine  Dr Manoj Kurian, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing Dr Mwai Makoka, WCC programme executive for health and healing Julia Stoffner, health policy advisor,  Brot für die Welt WCC News 28 May 2024: As WHO assembly starts, WCC reaffirms commitment to “health for all” Read the full letter of the WCC general secretary to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization (WHO) director-general See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland