Mr. Hassan, a Youth Councillor at WHO, and his fellow Youth Councillors engage with the WHO Director-General and senior leaders. They are involved in designing and expanding the agency’s programs and strategies. In an interview with UN News before the 2025 World Health Assembly, Mr. Hassan, originally from Texas, USA, discusses his motivations behind founding iCure, a nonprofit organization aimed at ensuring everyone has access to preventive medical screenings. He also talks about the potential of a pandemic treaty to improve healthcare for vulnerable communities.
Rehman Hassan: Ten years ago, my grandfather passed away from heart disease. He didn’t receive the care he deserved, which was due to language and cultural barriers. This experience inspired me to start iCure to ensure no one else suffers the same fate.
Rehman Hassan: During the COVID-19 pandemic, I lived with my immunocompromised grandparents and witnessed firsthand the effects of misinformation and lack of resources, especially in my community.
Rehman Hassan: The WHO pandemic preparedness treaty, if accepted, will be a significant advancement for health equity. It spells out necessary actions at the community level for member states to support and care for the most vulnerable populations.
Rehman Hassan: Although pandemics are becoming more frequent, member states’ commitment to a meaningful treaty offers hope for a better pandemic response compared to the previous one.
Source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2025/05/1163366
