Martine Deprez, Luxembourg's Minister of Health and Social Security; Credit: ©SIP / Claude Piscitelli

Luxembourg’s Minister of Health and Social Security, Martine Deprez, is representing Luxembourg at the 74th session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Europe (RC74), which is being held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 October 2024. 

This annual meeting brings together health ministers and high-level delegates from the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region, as well as representatives from partner organisations and civil society.

During the general debate on the state of health in the European region, Minister Deprez expressed Luxembourg’s concern about the increase in conflicts that are generating humanitarian and health crises, particularly in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip and recently in Lebanon. In this context, Luxembourg is assessing the possibility of sending medical equipment and is preparing the evacuation of patients from Gaza to Luxembourg hospitals.

Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge was re-elected as WHO Regional Director for Europe. In his speech, he recalled the words of Dag Hammarskjöld, former UN Secretary-General: “The United Nations was not created to lead humanity to paradise, but to save it from hell.”

The Standing Committee of the Regional Committee (SCRC), a subcommittee of WHO Europe, composed of representatives from 12 countries, also confirmed several appointments. The members of this committee are elected by the Regional Committee for a three-year term, and their mission is to advise the Regional Director for Europe. On this occasion, the candidate from Luxembourg, Dr Thomas Dentzer, was appointed Executive Vice-President.

Among the topics for discussion is the adoption of a regional strategy for health emergency preparedness for the period 2024-2029 (Preparedness 2.0), which aims to strengthen national health emergency plans in the Region.

The minister also stressed the importance of better addressing mental health needs, particularly those of young people. This major concern was shared by a significant number of Member States in the European Region. A performance by a group of young dancers, of Irish origin, “House of Swags”, encouraged the participants of the regional committee to make a strong plea to break the silence and stigma of young people who often suffer in silence, impacted by mental health which poses many challenges in their daily lives.