Geneva: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has awarded the Shield of the International Agreement on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (WHO Pandemic Agreement) to President of the Republic, Kais Saied. The award was presented during the closing session of the Working Group on the Draft Protocol to the Agreement, which took place in Geneva on July 9-10, 2025, as stated in a Health Ministry press release on Thursday. According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, this recognition highlights President Saied's pivotal contribution to the development of this significant international initiative. The WHO Pandemic Agreement was formally adopted at the 78th World Health Assembly on May 20, 2025. The agreement represents a crucial advancement in enhancing the global health system and securing health security for future generations. Tunisia emerged as a pioneering advocate for a binding international framework in pandemic prevention and response. President Saied initially proposed the idea of an internationa l treaty dedicated to pandemics during a conversation with the WHO Director-General on April 7, 2020. He reiterated this call on March 30, 2021, through a joint appeal with 26 other countries and the WHO Director-General. The initiative aimed to tackle the deficiencies revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the vast loss of life and the unequal distribution of vaccines worldwide.