[afro-nets] Major Public Health Issues on Agenda at UN Meeting in Geneva

[Claudio Schuftan <claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn>]

Major Public Health Issues on Agenda at UN Meeting in Geneva
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From: "Vern Weitzel" <vern.weitzel@undp.org>

The top United Nations health decision-making body kicks off its
annual session in Geneva today focusing on a draft global immu-
nization strategy as well as other international strategies
aimed at disease control and prevention.

The meeting of the World Health Assembly, which oversees the
work of the UN World Health Organization will review the
agency's proposed budget and consider more than a dozen draft
resolutions on such issues as cancer prevention and control, tu-
berculosis, malaria, pandemic influenza and health insurance.

The Assembly will also receive updates on progress in polio
eradication, scaling up of HIV/AIDS treatment and care, and the
promotion of healthy lifestyles. This year's invited speakers
are the President of the Republic of Maldives, Maumoon Abdul
Gayoom and Bill Gates, Co-Founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation.

In a related development, WHO announced plans to appoint the re-
nowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra collectively as a "Goodwill
Ambassador" for the agency today. The aim is for the renown or-
chestra to employ its talent and wide reach in raising awareness
of WHO's work on important public health issues

The Assembly, comprised of the 192 WHO Member States, will con-
tinue its session through 25 May.

--
Note: PHM has its own session on the right to health on May
19th.

Claudio Schuftan
mailto:claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn