Deputy Minister of Health Dr Molefi Sefularo will depart for Geneva this evening leading a high-level delegation to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA) commencing on Monday, 18 May.
The WHA is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland and it is a supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Among the issues in the Assembly’s agenda these years are:
* Pandemic influenza preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines.
* Implementation of the International Health Regulations.
* Primary healthcare, including health systems strengthening.
* Monitoring of the achievements of the health-related millennium development goals (MDGs).
Commenting on this years agenda of the Assembly, Sefularo expressed confidence that all of the issues have a direct bearing on the country (South Africa) and its people.
"Indeed, health and health-delivery are a global issue. Right now for instance, the world is facing the outbreak of the H1N1 influenza and it is encouraging that this issue is sitting right at the top of the agenda. It is important that we are there when this matter is discussed. The same applies to the issue of primary health and the strengthening thereof. This is a route that we have taken as a democratic government and we will be able to share our experiences in this area with the rest of the world," said the Deputy Health Minister.
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 312 0663
Cell: 079 517 3333
