Avian Flu High High On World Health Assembly Agenda

Treyfish · May 13, 2007

<TABLE style="DIRECTION: ltr" width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Avian Flu High High On World Health Assembly Agenda</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
13 May 2007
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The issue of sharing research data on avian influenza is shaping up to be the most controversial and potentially damaging item on this year's agenda of the World Health Assembly. The annual assembly of 193 governments, which opens in Geneva on Monday, will debate ways to tackle a possible bird flu pandemic. Other global health problems will also be under review. Lisa Schlein has more for VOA.
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</TD></TR><TR><TD class=imagecaption></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The World Health Organization has been working feverishly to get nations to prepare for a potential avian flu pandemic that could kill millions of people. Cooperation among nations to try to ward off this global danger is increasing.
But, a dispute over the sharing of bird flu virus samples threatens to prevent many of these advances. Indonesia is one of the worst affected countries. WHO spokesman Ian Simpson says there is great concern about that country's reluctance to share its data.
"It is extremely important that all governments share virus samples in order that it is possible for the world to really track the development of avian influenza and track the emergence of a pandemic influenza strain," said Ian Simpson. "So, this is a really important global public good and we hope that there will be agreement at this World Health Assembly to really stick to the global agreement that there is on sharing samples and that we can move on."
Seventy five people have died from the H5N1 bird flu virus in Indonesia. The international practice of openly sharing of virus samples from humans is seen as important for vaccine research.
The Indonesian government stopped sharing virus samples in December fearing pharmaceutical companies would develop vaccines that would be too costly for poor countries. In March, Indonesia agreed to share the samples with WHO. But, so far none have been sent.
Simpson says another matter linked to this hot-button issue is the relationship between public health and Intellectual property. He says a strong division exists between those who believe promoting public health is paramount and those who consider the protection of intellectual property rights to be more important.
"As WHO, we see the value of both of those things," he said. "We know that it is important for people to get access to drugs at prices they can afford. But, we also know that unless intellectual property is protected, then we will not see the investment in the development of future tools, which we will need. So, we have to find a way to satisfy both the concerns of intellectual property and the concerns of public health.
Health ministers at the assembly will also discuss the progress being made toward polio eradication. WHO is expected to ask for more money to finish the job in the four remaining polio endemic countries.
Discussions will take place on other problems such as cancer, heart disease, tuberculosis control, and HIV/AIDS. WHO also will ask the assembly to approve a 15 percent increase in its two-year global budget. It will request $4.2 billion for 2008 and 2009. :tiphat: http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-05-13-voa26.cfm

Treyfish · May 13, 2007

Re: Avian Flu High High On World Health Assembly Agenda

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class="colored_in_333 boldWeight">UN health assembly tackles bird flu dispute, African health</TD></TR><TR><TD>

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</TD></TR><TR><TD>13 May 2007 | 06:51 | FOCUS News Agency</TD></TR><TR><TD>

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</TD></TR><TR><TD>Geneva. A potentially damaging dispute over bird flu research and a drive to improve the health of millions of Africans will be at the heart of the World Health Organisation's annual assembly of 193 governments starting on Monday, AFP reports.
The meeting of health ministers and officials until May 23 is also due to launch a vaccination campaign against yellow fever for 48 million people, bolster polio eradication efforts and examine the impact of alcohol and climate change on health.
One of the most important issues before the assembly is a dispute over the sharing of bird flu virus samples with one of the worst affected countries, Indonesia, WHO spokesman Iain Simpson said.
The international practice of openly sharing of virus samples from human cases with foreign laboratories is considered vital for research on vaccines against the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus and a potential pandemic strain.
Indonesia -- where 75 people have died from H5N1 -- halted sample sharing last December because of fears that multinational drug companies would use them to develop costly vaccines that would be unaffordable for poorer countries.
"We believe that we're moving to resolve that, but the issue has not been fully resolved. We hope that it will be fully resolved during the assembly," Simpson said.
Indonesia had agreed in March to an immediate resumption, after reaching a deal with the WHO to develop a new mechanism on sample-sharing.
But nearly two months later, samples have not been sent according to officials, partly because Indonesia insists a verbal commitment is not enough.
A senior Indonesian health official said Jakarta will urge WHO members to formally scrap the existing international policy.
Meanwhile, WHO Director General Margaret Chan will use her first assembly to add flesh to promises to improve the health of Africans and of women worldwide.
"She will be setting out in much more detail her vision and plans for the next five years," Simpson explained.
One of her first actions will be ask the assembly to approve a 15-percent increase in the WHO's two-year global budget from 2008 to 4.2 billion dollars.
Twelve African countries will be at the centre of a campaign to vaccinate some 48 million people against yellow fever over four years, which is due to be launched at the assembly on Wednesday.
The WHO estimates that some 200,000 people in Africa and Latin America catch yellow fever every year and 30,000 of them die.
The UN health agency will also ask the 193 states to bolster funding for polio eradication and prevent its spread into new countries.
"The issue now is that it's endemic in four remaining countries, there is huge progress being made in Afghanistan and Pakistan, there are still issues in Nigeria and India," Simpson said.
Growing evidence that climate change is an emerging threat to public health will also be presented to the meeting, marking the start of the WHO's first initiative to deal with the issue.
Chan is also due to present a report to the assembly for the first time on the impact of alcohol on health.
An annual request by Taiwan to gain a foothold in the UN health agency despite China's opposition is expected to be short-lived.
Simpson said Taiwan had asked for full membership this year, instead of making its repeatedly rejected bid for observer status, but that has already been turned by the WHO's member states in the 1970s.
"Any resolution, decision can be reopened but there has been no indication from the member states that they wish to reopen that question," Simpson said.:tiphat: http://www.focus-fen.net/?id=n112215
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Treyfish · May 13, 2007

Re: Avian Flu High High On World Health Assembly Agenda

Minister: Czech Republic opposes Taiwan's bid for WHO membership


May 13, 2007 22:46 Beijing Time

The Czech Republic does not support Taiwan in its bid for membership of the World Health Organization (WHO), Czech's deputy Health Minister Michael Vit said in an interview before the 60th World Health Assembly, which is slated to open next Monday.
Vit said that the WHO is a specialized organization under the United Nations, of which only sovereign states can be members.
"As a part of China, Taiwan is not eligible to join the WHO as a member." he added.
The 60th World Health Assembly will run from May 14 to 23 in Geneva, Switzerland. Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian sent a letter to WHO Director General Margaret Chan requesting WHO membership for Taiwan in April.
During the interview with Xinhua, Vit stressed that the Czech government always sticks to the one-China policy, and will not back the attempt of Taiwan authorities to seek membership of the WHO.
WHO spokesman Iain Simpson also reiterated on Friday that the WHO is a specialized organization within the United Nations, and the organization will stick to the one-China policy on the issue of Taiwan in accordance with the WHO's resolutions.
Taiwan has sought observer status in the WHO over the past 10 years, but has never succeeded in gaining it.
Vit appreciated China's effort to push forward cross-strait health and medical exchanges and cooperation.

In 2005, the Chinese Health Ministry and the WHO Secretariat signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the participation of Taiwan health and medical experts in WHO's technical activities.
Under the MOU, the WHO can invite health experts from Taiwan to participate in its technical activities, and send staff and experts to Taiwan to investigate health issues and provide technical health assistance.
Since the MOU was signed, 12 groups of experts from Taiwan have participated in WHO's health activities.
"We agree with the idea that Taiwan communicates and cooperates with the World Health Organization on a technical level." Vit said.:tiphat:
http://www.jongonews.com/articles/07/0513/15228/MTUyMjgAD4F6hVi.html

Treyfish · May 13, 2007

Re: Avian Flu High High On World Health Assembly Agenda

11 May 2007
Sixtieth World Health Assembly: Media opportunities
GENEVA -- </SPAN>The Sixtieth World Health Assembly (WHA) will take place from 14 to 23 May 2007 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. Issues to be discussed include: avian and pandemic influenza (developments, response and follow-up) and the application of the International Health Regulations; smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks; malaria, including proposal for establishment of Malaria Day; tuberculosis control: progress and long-term planning; prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: implementation of the global strategy; better medicines for children; and progress in the rational use of medicines. The Health Assembly will consider draft resolutions recommended by the WHO Executive Board on these and other issues.
The agenda, the daily Journal and other WHA documents can be found at http://www.who.int/gb/ and are available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Below is a list of agenda items and other events which may be of particular interest to journalists. Depending on the length of discussions, times and dates for agenda items will likely shift, so journalists should regularly consult the World Health Assembly Journal posted daily. All technical briefings are open to journalists.
Invited speakers
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg of Norway will address the Health Assembly on issues related to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Mr Stoltenberg and the Norwegian Government have a particular commitment to MDG 4 and 5 (child and maternal health) and will outline how Norway is implementing this commitment. Mr Stoltenberg will also speak about UN reform as he recently co-chaired the Secretary General?s High-level Panel on UN System-wide Coherence.
Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, will also be addressing the Health Assembly. Ms Obaid has a long and distinguished career at the United Nations with a focus on development and the advancement of women. She has also been instrumental in efforts in the United Nations system to reform business practices and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of UN development support. She will speak about collaborative activities with WHO on maternal and child health and international global security.
Monday, 14 May

10:00 - 11:30: Opening of the Sixtieth World Health Assembly, Election of the President and other office bearers, and Adoption of the agenda Music from South Africa performed by Adrian Kevin More and Nonhlanhal Pretty Yende

14:30 - 17:30: Plenary Speakers

Chair of Executive Board
Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General

The General Debate in Plenary will continue during Tuesday and Wednesday morning

16:00 Committee A: Opening Avian and pandemic influenza:

Developments, response and follow-up
International Health Regulations

18:00: WHO Director-General reception at WHO restaurant (journalists welcome)

Tuesday, 15 May

9:00 - 11:30 Committee A:
Avian and pandemic influenza:

Developments, response and follow-up
International Health Regulations
Best practices for sharing influenza viruses and sequence data

Plenary:
11:30 - 12:15 Guest Speakers

Mr Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister, Norway
Ms Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA

Technical briefing: Avian Influenza virus sharing and vaccine
13:00 - 14:30, Room XII

Viroj Tangcharoensathien,Thailand
Doug Holtzman, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Dr Ali Jaffer Mohammad, Director General of Health Affairs, Oman
Dr David Heymann, Assistant Director-General, Communicable Diseases, WHO
Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, Director, Initiative for Vaccine Research, WHO
Dr Keiji Fukuda, Coordinator, Global influenza Programme, WHO

Committee A:

Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks
Control of leishmaniasis
Polio: mechanisms for management of potential risks to eradication

Media briefing: 17:00 - 18:00, Salle I
What: Roadmap to North-South consensus on health worker migration

Mary Robinson, President of Realizing Rights; Co-chair of the Health Worker Global Policy Advisory Council
Dr Francis Omaswa, Executive Director, Global Health Workforce Alliance
Dr Anders Nordstr?m, Assistant Director-General, Health Systems and Services, WHO
Erik Solheim, Minister for International Development, Norway
Patricia Aragon Sto Tomas, Minister of Labor and Employment, the Philippines

Wednesday, 16 May

Committee A

Malaria, including proposal for establishment of Malaria Day

Committee B

Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

Technical briefing: Global health security: Pandemic influenza and implementation of the International Health Regulations
13:00 - 14:30, Room XII

Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO
Mr Tony Clements, Minister of Health, Canada
Mr Alan Reilly, Deputy Chief Executive, Food Safety Authority, Ireland
Mr A.K. R?mi, Minister of Health, C?te d'Ivoire (TBC)
Dr David Heymann, Assistant Director-General, Communicable Diseases, WHO
Dr Maria Neira, Director, Protection of the Human Environment, WHO
Dr Shigeru Omi, Regional Director, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (TBC)
Dr Guenael Rodier, Director, International Health Regulations Coordination Programme, WHO
Dr Mike Ryan, Director, Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response, WHO
Dr Jorgen Schlundt, Director, Department of Food Safety, Zoonoses and Foodborne Diseases, WHO

Launch of an Initiative on yellow fever
18:00, Salle XXII (followed by a cocktail).
The meeting will describe the importance of the Yellow Fever Initiative in responding and managing a specific threat to global health security. Supported by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and led by WHO and UNICEF, it aims to reduce the risk of yellow fever in 12 endemic countries in Africa and will result in the vaccination of 48 million people in the coming years.

Thursday, 17 May

Committee A:

Proposed 2008-2009 programme budget
Evidence-based strategies and interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm
Prevention and control of non communicable diseases: implementation of global strategy

Committee B:

Administrative and financial issues

Technical briefing: Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual property
13:00 - 14:30, Room XII

Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO
Dr Howard Zucker, Assistant Director-General, Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals, WHO
Mr Peter Oldham, Chair, IGWG-PHI (Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property)
Dr Elil Renganathan, Executive Secretary, PHI (Secretariat on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property)

Members of the IGW

Mr P. Oldham, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Canada, Geneva
Mr B. Wijnberg, Senior Policy Adviser, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Netherlands
Dr H. Gashut, Counsellor, Permanent Mission Libya, Geneva
Dr A.E.O. Ogwell, Head, Office for International Health Relations, Ministry of Health, Kenya
Mr Jaya Ratnam, Charg? d?Affaires a.i., Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Singapore, Geneva
Mr N. Dayal, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India

Plenary: Awards: 17:00

A.T. Shousha Foundation Prize
Leon Bernard Foundation
Ihsan Dogramaci Family Health Foundation Prize
Sasakawa Health Prize
United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize

Friday, 18 May
Committee A:

Oral health: Action plan
Working towards universal coverage of maternal, newborn and child health interventions
Health promotion in a globalized world

Committee B:

Collaboration with the United Nations system and with other international organizations
WHO's role and responsibilities in health research
Progress in the rational use of medicines
Better medicines for children

Technical briefing: Managing the international migration of health workers
13:00 - 14:30, Room XII

Dr Anders Nordstr?m, Assistant Director-General, Health Systems and Services, WHO
Dr Tim Evans, WHO Assistant Director-General, Information, Evidence and Research
Dr Francis Omaswa, Executive Secretary, Global Health Workforce Alliance
Erik Solheim, Minister for International Development, Norway
Patricia Aragon Sto Tomas, Minister of Labour and Employment, the Philippines
Heads of delegation from Portugal and Brazil (TBC)

Saturday, 19 May

9:00 - 13:00
Committee A:

Integrating gender analysis and action into the work of WHO

Monday, 21 May:

Committee A:

Workers health: draft global plan of action
Health systems: emergency care

Committee B:

Health technologies
Public health, innovation and intellectual property

Technical briefing: WHO Global Action Plan Against Cancer
13:00 - 14:30, Room XII

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. From a total of 58 million deaths worldwide in 2005, cancer accounted for 7.6 million (or 13%) of all deaths. More than 70% of all cancer deaths in 2005 occurred in low and middle income countries. The purpose of the briefing is to review with Member States the current and expected global cancer burden, and WHO activities to better support Member States in their fight against cancer.

Professor Mike Chirenje, Zimbabwe
Dr Andrej Bručan, Minister of Health, Slovenia
Dr Mohamed- Cheikh Biadillah, Minister of Health, Morocco (TBC)
Professor Franco Cavalli, President of the International Union Against Cancer
Dr Lu?s Gomes Sambo, Regional Director, WHO/AFRO
Dr Catherine Le Gales-Camus, Assistant Director-General, Noncommunicable diseases and Mental Health, WHO
Dr Andreas Ullrich and Dr Richard Lessard, cancer control medical officers, WHO

Discussion on "Health Protection from Climate Change"
18:00 - 19:30, Room XII

The discussion will summarize the accumulating evidence of climate change as an emerging threat to global public health, and outline the necessary responses. Presentations by international experts on the issue, and by delegates of some of the most vulnerable countries will be made. The event will also introduce a new WHO strategic initiative on "Public health protection from climate change", designed to reduce vulnerability to climate change, while also bringing immediate health gains.

Ms Susanne Weber-Mosdorf, Assistant Director-General, Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments, WHO
Dr Bettina Menne, Global change and health, WHO European office
Dr Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Scientist, Global environmental change and health, WHO
Dr Carlos Corval?n, Coordinator, Interventions for healthy environments, WHO
Dr Solomon Nzioka, consultant to WHO/UNDP Global Environment Facility project (TBC)
Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional Director, South East Asian Region, WHO
Dr Maria Neira, Director, Public Health and Environment, WHO

Tuesday, 22 May

12:00 - 12:30: Mrs Reiko Kaburaki Lee, widow of the late Director-General Lee Jong-wook, will be making a presentation on her work with Socios en Salud in Lima, Peru.

Committee A:

Strengthening of health information systems

Committee B: Progress reports:

Improving the containment of antimicrobial resistance; improving AIDS coordination among multilateral institutions; world report on violence and health; promotion of road safety and traffic- injury prevention; disability, including prevention, management and rehabilitation; cancer prevention and control; sustaining the elimination of iodine deficiency disorders; strengthening active and healthy ageing; emergency preparedness and response; reducing global measles mortality; health metrics network

Technical briefing: 20th Anniversary of Safe Motherhood Initiative
13:00 - 14:30, Room XII

In the last 20 years, the issue of safe motherhood has evolved from a neglected issue to an essential and integrated element of the women?s health agenda. The event that set this change in motion was a landmark worldwide movement launched in 1987?the Safe Motherhood Initiative. Governments are committed to achieving MDG 5 and would need all the support. UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, World and Regional Banks, major donors, NGOs and Civil Societies all needs to work together in helping countries to achieve their goals and improve maternal and newborn health and survival.

Dr Dorothy Shaw, President, International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
Dr Kathy Herschderfer, Executive Secretary, International Confederation of Midwives (ICM)
Ms Jill Sheffield, Executive President, Family Care International (FCI)
Ministers of Health: Kenya, Lao, Bolivia, Ireland, Germany, Spain (TBC)
Member of Parliaments: Sally Keeble, MP, UK and Chantal Gill'Ard, MP, The Netherlands
Dr Monir Islam, Director, Department of Making Pregnancy Safer, WHO

Wednesday, 23 May

11:00 Closure of the Health Assembly
Closing Speech, President of the Sixtieth Health Assembly
Closing speech, Dr Margaret Chan, Director- General, WHO

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2007/wha01/en/index.html

Treyfish · May 14, 2007

Re:60th World Health Assembly Meeting news thread

Re:60th World Health Assembly Meeting news thread

Indonesia's bird flu policy center stage at WHO assembly by Peter Capella

A damaging dispute with Indonesia over bird flu research took centre stage Monday at the World Health Organisation's assembly, which was also marred by wrangling over Taiwan's unsuccessful membership bid.

Indonesia -- the country worst affected by H5N1 bird flu this year -- stopped sharing virus samples with foreign laboratories last December, a practice that is regarded as crucial for research on vaccines and preventing a pandemic.
Jakarta fears that multinational drug companies could use the samples to develop vaccines that poorer countries would be unable to afford, and has vowed to bring its demand for changes to the international practice to the assembly.
However, there were signs as the meeting of health ministers and officials opened in Geneva that Indonesia would come under strong pressure over the next 10 days.
The United States urged countries to share bird flu virus samples "without pre-conditions."
"We continue to call on countries everywhere to share influenza samples openly and rapidly, without pre-conditions," US Health Secretary Mike Leavitt told journalists.
"No nation can go it alone, all nations have a responsibility," Leavitt said.
A senior Indonesian health official said last week that Indonesia would urge WHO members to scrap the existing policy on sample sharing during the assembly.
Leavitt said: "In the past few months, the media buzz about bird flu has died down, but the H5N1 strain of avian influenza has not."
"It remains a serious danger that we must all face together," he added.
On Monday, an Indonesian health ministry official in Jakarta confirmed that an Indonesian woman had died of the H5N1 strain, taking the country's death toll from the virus to 76.
The WHO is hopeful that a durable solution will be found to the dispute at its assembly of 193 nations, following an agreement by Indonesia in March to resume sample sharing.
But samples have still not been sent, partly because Indonesia insists a verbal commitment to develop a new mechanism is not enough.
The chairwoman of the assembly, Australian health official Jane Halton, called for a constructive solution that balanced global public health interests, the need for commercial development of vaccines and the "legitimate desire for all countries for affordable access... to protect their populations."
"I hope this will lead to all countries continuing to participate in the WHO's influenza strain sharing system," she added.
Indonesia was due to make its speech on Monday, but it was postponed for a day -- along with a key policy-setting address by WHO Director General Margaret Chan -- after procedural wrangling over Taiwan's membership bid dragged on.
An overwhelming majority of the member states eventually followed their decade-long rebuff of Taiwan's observer status by closing the door on the Asian island's request for full-blown membership of the UN health agency.
Some 148 of the member states present or allowed to vote effectively rejected consideration of the bid.
Seventeen countries supported Taiwan, mainly small Pacific and Caribbean island states, along with three African countries and three Latin American nations. Two countries abstained.
European countries and major powers, including the United States, opposed Taiwan's bid, although they supported closer ties and cooperation on health issues with the island.
Taiwan was evicted from the agency in 1972, a year after losing the "China" seat in the United Nations to Beijing. Beijing considers the island part of its sovereign territory awaiting reunification.:tiphat: http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/administration/afp-news.html?id=070514173622.rz9d8lvf

Treyfish · May 14, 2007

Re: Avian Flu High High On World Health Assembly Agenda

WHO rejects call to consider Taiwan membership
Mon 14 May 2007 15:48:23 BST
GENEVA, May 14 (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) refused on Monday to consider membership for Taiwan, agreeing at its annual assembly with China that only sovereign states could join.

Taiwan, a self-governed island of 23 million people seen by China as a breakaway province, warns its exclusion from the 193-state United Nations' agency undermines international efforts to fight diseases such as bird flu.

For the past 10 years, Taiwan has unsuccessfully sought observer status at the WHO, but this year the small group of countries that recognise Taipei went one step further and pushed for a debate on possible membership.

But the call was rejected by 148 votes to 17.

Taiwan argues that China showed indifference to the island when the SARS epidemic struck there four years ago, causing delays in the dispatching of WHO medical experts. Taiwan has not had a human case of H5N1 bird flu though the deadly virus has reached its neighbours Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, as well as mainland China.

"Were any epidemic to break out in Taiwan, it would spread to many places in the world in a short period of time. This would be a heavy blow to the health and safety of everyone around the globe," Taiwanese President Shui-bian Chen said in a videoconference with journalists in Geneva last week.

"Taiwan needs to be able to comprehensively and effectively participate in the international public health network and collaborate closely with other nations," he said.

However, under the terms of a memorandum of understanding signed two years ago between China and the WHO, Beijing will allow the U.N. agency to send experts to investigate any outbreak of disease on the island and Taiwanese health officials have been able to attend some WHO technical meetings.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and opposes its membership of most international organisations, although it did agree to its becoming part of the World Trade Organisation in 2001.:tiphat:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/CrisesArticle.aspx?rpc=401&storyId=L14534020

Treyfish · May 14, 2007

Re: Avian Flu High High On World Health Assembly Agenda

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WHO/Peter Williams

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>World Health Assembly opens
14 May 2007 -- The 60th World Health Assembly opened on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland. The Assembly is the supreme decision-making body of WHO and is attended by delegations from the 193 Member States. Issues to be discussed in the 10-day session include avian and pandemic influenza and the application of the International Health Regulations; noncommunicable diseases; better medicines for children; and progress in the rational use of medicines.:tiphat: http://www.who.int/en/

Treyfish · May 14, 2007

Re: Avian Flu High High On World Health Assembly Agenda

Sixtieth World Health Assembly
Photos from day 1
<TABLE class=bgbx><TBODY><TR><TD class=bx7>All images may be downloaded and used, provided credit is given as follows: "WHO/Peter Williams"
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The 60th World Health Assembly opens in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday, 14 May 2007.
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Professor Dr Paulo Ivo Garrido from Mozambique, the outgoing President of the 59th World Health Assembly, addresses the audience. Seated with him are WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan and Deputy Director-General Dr Anarfi Asamoah-Baah.
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Nonhlanhal Pretty Yende and Adrian Kevin More from South Africa perform at the 60th World Health Assembly.
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WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan at the 60th World Health Assembly.
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Vice-presidents of the World Health Assembly during the first day's session.
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WHO Regional Directors at the 60th World Health Assembly.
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WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan with newly elected President of the 60th World Health Assembly, Ms Jane Halton from Australia.
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Newly elected President of the 60th World Health Assembly, Ms Jane Halton from Australia, addresses the audience.
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WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan speaks with Mr S M Rhyu, Minister of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea and Ms Elena Salgado, Minister of Health of Spain.
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WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan plants a tree in the premises of WHO headquarters in memory of former Director-General Dr Lee Jong-wook.:tiphat: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/multimedia/2007/wha60/en/index.html
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Treyfish · May 14, 2007

Re: Avian Flu High High On World Health Assembly Agenda

WHO help sought to train doctors, nurses

Health Adviser Major General (Retd) Dr A S M Matiur Rahman said the change of dietary habit from high carbohydrate food should be promoted to prevent non-communicable diseases, reports BSS.
?Cessation of smoking refraining from sedentary life with promotion of exercise and healthy dietary habit should be at the centre for prevention of non-communicable diseases, like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and chronic respiratory disease,? he said.
The health adviser, who is presently in Geneva leading the Bangladesh delegation at the 60th World Health Assembly, was delivering a statement on ?Lifestyle Diseases: Health System Approaches? at the Commonwealth health ministers? meeting yesterday.
Dr Matiur also had a meeting with Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr Margaret Chan.
During the meeting, the adviser highlighted the success of the safe motherhood initiative and urged the WHO to help Bangladesh in training more gynaecologists, anaesthetics, nurses and technicians.
Referring to the introduction of world class nursing courses in Bangladesh, he urged the WHO to provide technical support for development of curricula and teaching method.
Dr Matiur said the government is considering to outsource the management of some government hospitals and requested the WHO chief to provide some ideas of how it has been done elsewhere. The Director General assured him that she would extend necessary help in this respect.
He said Bangladesh had been facing difficulty due to lack of maintenance facility of electro medical equipment and hoped that the WHO would provide experts in this area. Dr Chan assured that she will look into this and would get back to the government.
She also appreciated the steps taken by Bangladesh in safe motherhood programme and mentioned that Bangladesh should share its experiences in the future WHO conferences so that other countries could also benefit from it.:tiphat:http://www.newstoday-bd.com/metropolis.asp?newsdate=

Treyfish · May 14, 2007

Re: Avian Flu High High On World Health Assembly Agenda

<TABLE class=table_back cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="90%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=count_top_02 width="66%">Foreign minister regrets failed WHO bid, vows to strive on
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</TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR><TR><TD class=author width="59%">By Staff Writer
Taiwan News
2007-05-15 01:23 AM </TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=15></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>The Ministry of Foreign Affairs voiced regret at the country's failure to join the World Health Organization after its annual assembly refused to place the issue on the agenda slightly after midnight of Tuesday Taiwan time.
MOFA Minister James Huang said he regretted the WHO decision but vowed to fight on until Taiwan gains accession to the global health body.
Of the island's 25 diplomatic allies, only 16 voted in favor of placing Taiwan's membership request on the agenda of WHO meetings.
The foreign ministry said it was disappointed at the result and will try to understand why Costa Rica voted against Taiwan's WHO bid.
The United State, Japan and other major countries all shied away from backing Taiwan's bid though the former two said theysupported the island's meaningful participation in WHO activities. This marked the 11th time Taiwan tried unsuccessfully to join WHO. In a marked departure from the last decade, the country this year embarked on a bold venture to seek full WHO membership, instead of observer status in the World Health Assembly, the supreme WHO decision-making body. Toward the end, President Chen Shui-bian personally wrote letters earlier this year to WHO Secretariat to convey the wish. The secretariat, however, rejected the request, saying Taiwan was not qualified for the application that requires statehood.:tiphat: http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/ne...cate_img=83.jpg&cate_rss=news_Politics_TAIWAN
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Avian Flu High High On World Health Assembly Agenda

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