Today Mr Gennady Gatilov Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus signed four new memoranda of understanding MoU agreements including a contribution for an amount exceeding US 15 million to support priority health actions The focus areas include the International Health Regulations 2005 implementation of the COVID 19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan increasing the quantity of WHO health information in the Russian language to promote health literacy in Russian speaking countries reducing maternal newborn and child deaths and strengthening WHO human resources The Russian Federation has been in important partner and Member State of WHO and has consistently demonstrated its solid commitment and strong support to WHO and the global health community said WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus I thank the Russian Federation for their generous support to WHO s priority health actions As a vital actor in the global health arena and a valued and recognized WHO donor the Russian Federation consistently contributes expertise financial human technical and other resources to support the global community in tackling a broad spectrum of global health challenges More recently throughout 2020 Russia has contributed substantial resources to support a number of priority WHO projects to achieve health related SDGs such as maternal newborn and child health support to the global COVID 19 response and non communicable diseases prevention and control A signing ceremony has taken place to commemorate this important new contribution with the participation of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva WHO and other International Organizations in Geneva WHO plays a key role as the directing and coordinating authority on international health matters said Permanent Representative Gennady Gatilov The Government of the Russian Federation confirms its commitment to enhancing its constructive cooperation with WHO Russia remains a reliable partner of the WHO and looks forward to further collaboration with all interested parties in order to strengthen the Organization s capacity