Valedictory-Speech-President-Lujain-Al-Qodmani-2023-2024

Valedictory Speech of WMA President
Distinguished colleagues, honored guests, and friends,
I remember one day my daughter Yasmin just five months old, was the reason for a
major security alert at the United Nations headquarters in New York. We were there for
the multi-stakeholder consultation on universal health coverage.
So, at the gate, the UN security force had everything ready for Michele, my husband,
who would be taking care of Yasmin while I was on stage, but they didn’t have a digital
pass for my baby. « We’re not used to having babies in the UN premises, » they said, as if
my tiny Yasmin could pose a security threat to the building. After a lot of back-and-forth,
and a few chuckles, we finally made it inside. The whole situation caused quite a stir,
but in the end, everyone smiled as they saw her.
I remember breastfeeding her in the nursing room, a surreal but tender reminder that
even amidst complex negotiations and international discourse, the most simple and
profound moments of care are what connect us all.
My presidency journey hasn’t been without its struggles. Navigating the inherent gender
imbalance within our organization—one that is still very male-dominated—was
challenging. As only the fifth woman president of the WMA, I was deeply aware of the
honor and responsibility of representing so many others who still lack a seat at the
table.
We need to make leadership accessible for women and mothers, and create support
structures and leadership avenues that are gender equal and accessible to all.
Let us establish more flexible meeting arrangements, providing childcare support
during key events, and creating mentorship opportunities specifically targeted at young
women physicians.
These steps can ensure that the voices of women are not just heard but are leading the
conversation.
Reflections on Achievements and Challenges
Throughout my tenure, I have seen both incredible progress but also daunting
challenges.
These challenges were a constant reminder that we as physicians, as leaders and as
advocates for health, must constantly challenge the status quo.
We must transform the long-standing systems to equal ones that accommodate all with
no discrimination. I take pride in the Leadership Through Mentorship initiative that
connects members of our Junior Doctors Network with the experience of our Past
Leaders Network, bridging generations to create a continuum of learning and growth.
We also made great strides through the Women-in-Medicine Luncheon, creating a
space for mentorship, peer learning, and celebrating women leaders in organized
medicine.
However, our advocacy did not stop there.
We raised our collective voices through open letters—one to safeguard healthcare
personnel during conflicts and another urging world leaders to divest away from fossil
fuel divestment on behalf of 46 million health professionals.
These were not mere formalities; they were calls for action, for safeguarding lives, and
for upholding our ethical duty to future generations.
But we faced resistance in implementing some of these initiatives, but it was through
resilience, collaboration, and unwavering belief in our mission that we overcame these
obstacles.
Current State of Global Healthcare and Progress
The challenges facing global healthcare today are immense. Conflicts rage, climate
change, economic crises and violations of human rights continue.
We have not learned enough from the devastations of the past, and the world is more
fragmented than ever. Despite the shared experience of COVID-19, we have yet to
reach a pandemic accord, and we still lag behind on the Paris Agreement, Sustainable
Development Goals including Universal Health Coverage.
This year, healthcare has faced immense dangers, with over 980 attacks reported by
the WHO surveillance system in areas such as Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza.
Doctors from Kenya to Korea, the UK to India, took to the streets demanding safer
working environments. These are not isolated incidents; they are cries for systemic
change, for respect, and for their right to serve their moral duty.
During my tenure, we successfully brought together stakeholders to discuss safer
working environments for healthcare personnel, ensuring healthcare system resilience
to climate change, and bringing important voices to demand actions to combat
antimicrobial resistance.
We also played a role in fostering international collaboration to advance the goals of all
the SDGs, particularly the Universal Health Coverage, ensuring that health remains a
right, not a privilege.
Core Reflections and Moral Duty
As physicians, our duty is not just to our patients but to the health and well-being of all.
No matter how bleak the world may seem, we must not lose our passion for this moral
duty.
This GA is historic. Following a long and extensive review process, we have an updated
draft of the Declaration of Helsinki for your approval. This document embodies our
commitment to integrity, respect, and the highest standards in medical ethics, reminding
us that our duty extends beyond individual patients to the broader advancement of
health, and we eagerly await its adoption.
Future Plans and Support for Incoming Leadership
My journey is far from over.
I will continue advocating for gender equality, for action on climate and health, and for
the rights of health for all and the rights of physicians everywhere. You will still see me
around—because there is still much work to be done, and I am far from finished.
To the incoming president, I offer my wholehearted support. This is not a solitary
journey; it is one that we walk together.
Acknowledgments and Thanks
I want to take a moment to thank those who have been instrumental during my
presidency.
To the Executive Council, to our Secretary General, and to the Secretariat members—
your dedication and support have been the backbone of our achievements.
To the National Medical Associations (NMAs), associate members and Junior Doctors
Network thank you for your unwavering support and for being the pillars of our global
efforts.
To my family, my friends, and especially my mother, who is here with me in Helsinki to
care for Yasmin, thank you for your unending love and strength.
And to Michele, my husband, and Yasmin—my travel companions and my heart
Michele, thank you for being my rock and all the sacrifices you made to help me fulfill
my role.
And to Yasmin, thank you for being my little source of joy and for your patience and
presence throughout this journey.
Calls to Action for Global Health
We live in a troubled world, with more conflicts now than at any time since 1944. The
importance of our call for peace cannot be overstated. Speaking today, with
representatives from over 50 countries gathered here in the form of NMAs, I see a
symbol of unity—a reminder of what the world should strive to be. Our strength lies in
our shared commitment, in our unity, and in our determination to act, regardless of the
political complexities involved.
I would like to leave you one final message as this is the last time I stand before you
today as the WMA President:
Let us continue to fight — for our rights, for our safety, for the right to a safe working
environment, and for the dignity of every individual. The WMA must take the lead in this
fight and continue to advocate for stronger health protections, resilient healthcare
infrastructure, equal capacity building opportunities and most importantly right to health,
and right to healthy environment. Let us be loud about our call to peace as a public
health priority and an important determinant of health.
Let us be the voice that speaks for those who cannot, and the hands that heal those
who are forgotten.
Thank you.