Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has delivered a speech at the session dedicated to universal healthcare coverage, held at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, saying that 90 per cent of Georgians have access to universal healthcare services while the opportunity is not fully available for Georgian citizens living in the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.
Speech at the High-Level Meeting on #UniversalHealthCoverage. #UNGA ???????? ???????? https://t.co/tHnsFCsU6d
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) September 23, 2019
Zurabishvili stated that it is the goal of the Georgian government to further refine the Universal Healthcare Programme which “enabled us to restore people’s dignity and save lives.”
#Georgia has proven that #UniversalHealthCoverage is attainable even for countries with limited resources. We have declared Health a political priority and through effective mobilization of our resources, 90% of our population has access to essential healthcare services. #UNGA pic.twitter.com/qif0S3tVyR
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) September 23, 2019
Zurabishvili has met with US healthcare officials and the president of Finland on the sidelines of the session, speaking about Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic course, the situation in the occupied regions and the state health services.
When I talk of an equitable health care system, I think of my fellow citizens who can enjoy health services at all levels. But my heart goes to our citizens in the occupied regions who are prevented from enjoying the full benefits of #UHC offered by the Georgian state. #UNGA pic.twitter.com/c1AUdyeg5R
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) September 23, 2019
The issue of the Georgian occupied territories has been raised at all the meetings of Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani held on the sidelines of the UNGA session.
Productive meeting today on the sidelines of #UNGA with @SecAzar of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Robert Rayfield of @CDCgov, talking about Georgia’s program to eradicate #HepatitisC and how to grow our relations with Washington on health issues. ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/ty3HNPsoxQ
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) September 24, 2019
He raised the issue at his meetings with foreign ministers of Cuba, Estonia, Austria, Iran and Denmark.
Zurabishvili is scheduled to deliver a speech at the UNGA session tomorrow.