WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ Date: 16 October 2024
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION
ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ
Mrs Riina Sikkut
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE
BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE
Minister of Health
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA Ministry of Social Affairs
ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО
Suur-Ameerika 1
Head office: Tallinn 10129
UN City, Marmorvej 51, Estonia
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01
Email:
[email protected]
Website: https://www.who.int/europe
Dear Madam,
I would like to extend my sincere thanks for your time and the valuable discussions we had during my
recent visit to Estonia, especially the working dinner with you and your team where I was grateful for
the frank and open discussions on the topics of mental health, alcohol use, nutrition and physical
activity, and the rise of nicotine product use among young people.
I was impressed by Estonia’s work to strengthen national health security and its proactive approach to
ensuring preparedness for future health emergencies. Your and your team’s commitment to learning
from past experiences – including the recent experiences of Ukraine – to strengthen preparedness and
readiness is remarkable.
Our discussions on the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) were particularly helpful as I
think about the development of the second European Programme of Work. Addressing the drivers of
NCDs, alongside novel nicotine product use, the growing mental health crisis, screen use, and the
impacts of climate change will require strong collaboration, and I look forward to further joint efforts
in these areas.
I would also like to express my appreciation for Estonia’s support to ensure uninterrupted functioning
of the WHO NCD programme upon relocation of the WHO European Office for the Prevention and
Control of Noncommunicable Diseases to Copenhagen, Denmark. This work is critical to ensuring
continued momentum in addressing NCDs, and I trust Estonia will remain committed to supporting
the office in its new location.
Additionally, I want to express my appreciation for Estonia’s strong support for the pandemic treaty
currently being negotiated by WHO Member States. This treaty presents a critical opportunity to build
a safer world for all. My team, through our Head of Country Office, Kristina Köhler, will work
proactively with the Ministry of Social Affairs to address disinformation and misinformation
challenges.
I look forward to our continued collaboration to improve health outcomes in Estonia and across the
WHO European Region.
Yours very truly,
Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge
Regional Director
UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email:
[email protected]
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe
Denmark
Copy for information to:
Mr Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islandi väljak 1 Tallinn 15049, Estonia
Ms Triin Uusberg, Head, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of Social Affairs, Suur-
Ameerika 1 Tallinn 10129, EstoniaMs Helen Sõber, Adviser, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation
Department, Ministry of Social Affairs, Suur-Ameerika 1, Tallinn 10122, Estonia
H.E. Ms Riia Salsa-Audiffren, Ambassador Representative of the Republic of Estonia, Permanent Mission of the Republic
of Estonia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28A
Genève CH- 1209, Switzerland
H.E. Mr Andre Pung, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenpotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of Estonia, Frederiksgade
19, 4th floor Copenhagen K 1265, Denmark
Ms Kristina Köhler, Liaison Officer, WHO Country Office, Estonia, Paldiski Road 81, Tallinn 10617, Estonia
–2–
Saatja: "Correspondence of the WHO Regional Director for Europe" <
[email protected]>
Saaja: "Riina Sikkut", "Triin Uusberg", "Elen Ohov"
Teema: Thank you letter from Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, the WHO Regional Director for Europe
Kuupäev: 2024-10-16 14:01
Dear Sir, Dear Madam,
With assurances of the highest consideration of this office, please find
attached the letter from Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, the WHO Regional Director
for Europe.
We would be grateful if the letter could be transmitted through your good
offices.
Yours sincerely,
Office of the Regional Director
World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe
UN City, Marmorvej 51, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Phone: +45 4533 6675
Web: <https://www.who.int/europe/home> WHO/Europe | Home