Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, addresses the general debate of the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly.
Credit: UN Photo/Marco Castro
The President of the United States, Barack Obama, has stressed his country’s commitment to continue supporting the AIDS response, tuberculosis and malaria. In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly he also underscored the US’ commitment to the health of women and children. The annual high-level debate is taking place in New York from 21 – 30 September.
“To stop disease that spreads across borders, we must strengthen our systems of public health. We will continue the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We will focus on the health of mothers and children,” said President Obama.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told world leaders present at the 66th session of the General Assembly that they face critical choices on global issues to ensure the well-being of future generations. “The first and greatest of these is sustainable development — the imperative of the 21st century,” said the Secretary-General. “We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all.”
To stop disease that spreads across borders, we must strengthen our systems of public health. We will continue the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We will focus on the health of mothers and children
President of the United States Barack Obama
In reaction to commitments to AIDS, health and women’s issues, Executive Director Michel Sidibé said, “When world leaders commit to finding health and development solutions, the burden of responsibility can be shared and the envelope for innovation pushed. I look forward to the world taking on pressing issues such as the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015.”
More than 120 heads of State and government are slated to address the Assembly during the debate.
