Reviewing recent achievements and preparing for accelerated action on health: highlights of 70th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean Region

From 9 to 12 October 2023, WHO Member States in the Eastern Mediterranean Region came together at the Organization's regional office in Cairo, Egypt, for the 70th Session of its main regional governing body, the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean. This year's meeting was particularly significant, marking not only the 75th Anniversary of WHO itself, but also my final session as Regional Director. As such, it was an important opportunity to take stock of the public health situation across the Region. With that aim in mind, participants were presented with 2 major new publications: an analysis of progress towards the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Region (1) and a report on the implementation of WHO's regional vision during my term (2).