The 69th World Health Assembly (WHA) opened at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday, 23rd May, 2016 under the theme of “Transforming our world – the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.

Preceding the 69th WHA was the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting which convened on Sunday, 22nd May, 2016 under the theme "Health Security and Access to Universal Health Coverage" at the Starling Hotel, Geneva. The Meeting was chaired by the Hon. Dr. Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, Canada. The Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-general, delivered opening remarks and the key note address was delivered by Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO. Attending the CHMM were Mr. Marco Rolle Permanent Secretary and Vice-chairman, Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Health (CACH); Dr. Glen Beneby, Chief Medical Officer; Dr. Percival McNeil, Consultant, Ministry of Health and Ms. Alarice Grant, Second Secretary, Bahamas High Commission, Geneva.

The Director-General of WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan, in her opening remarks at the 69th WHA, commended Member States for their commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) while setting the course for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This year's World Health Assembly has a robust agenda, with consideration of some 70 agenda items, a number of which are of great importance to The Bahamas, including International Health Regulations, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), WHO reform and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and combatting the Zika virus.

Marco Rolle, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health led the delegation to the World Health Assembly. Other members of the delegation included Her Excellency Rhoda M. Jackson, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office, Geneva, Dr. Glen Beneby, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Percival McNeil, Consultant and Alarice Grant, Second Secretary, Bahamas Permanent Mission, Geneva. The sessions end on Saturday 28 May, 2016.