"I would like to start by expressing my gratitude for the invitation to address the 74th session of the World Health Assembly which takes place in a very challenging time for the global health agenda due to the current COVID-19 pandemic," President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said at the closing ceremony of 74th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) on "Ending this pandemic, preventing the next: building together a healthier, safer and fairer world" held in a video format on May 31, on the invitation of WHO's General Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
"Azerbaijan supports the leading role and efforts of the World Health Organization in the global health governance, including in coordinating the global response to the pandemic. From the very first days of the pandemic Azerbaijan has taken practical measures to minimize negative impact of the COVID-19 on the population and to keep the situation under control. Within short period of time, 13 modular hospitals and one regular hospital were built. Total number of beds designated to treat COVID patients throughout the country is more than 10 000. At the same time, the socio-economic stimulus package worth almost $2 billion has been released in order to support COVID-affected people and business," the head of state said.