At the Ministry of Health, a meeting was held with the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) office in our country, Hande Harmanci.

During the meeting, discussions were held on the implementation of joint projects in the future (development of a joint strategy for immunization program in Azerbaijan for 2024-2025; improvement of health information systems, support for activities related to the global pandemic COVID-19; establishing a joint health emergency preparedness team; collaboration to strengthen primary healthcare, etc.).

During the opening speech, the Minister of Health, Teymur Musayev, emphasized that our country highly values cooperation with the World Health Organization: “Over the past years, significant work has been done in the context of cooperation, several projects have been successfully implemented at a national and global level.”

The Minister also stressed that strengthening primary health care is the backbone of universal health care. It was noted that to ensure universal health coverage, the Ministry is taking essential steps towards transitioning to the electronic document management system and utilizing digital and innovative technologies in the healthcare system.

Emphasizing the long-term experience of WHO experts in the field of public health, Teymur Musayev noted the importance of dynamic cooperation in the direction of establishing an institute for family health in the regions of Azerbaijan.

Touching upon the issue of the COVID-19 pandemic, Teymur Musayev stressed that our country constantly supports the activities of the World Health Organization related to the coronavirus pandemic. He expressed his gratitude to the representative office for its contribution to strengthening cooperation between Azerbaijan and WHO.

Expressing her appreciation for the warm welcome, the head of the WHO office in Azerbaijan, Hande Harmanci, expressed her hope for further successful development of cooperation.

Referring to the European Immunization Agenda 2030, H. Harmanci emphasized that the Immunization Program will provide a new direction for combating inequalities in vaccination coverage within and between countries. H.Harmanci highlighted the long-term cooperation between Azerbaijan and the WHO and expressed the readiness of the WHO to contribute in every possible way to strengthen primary health care.