delegation at the 60th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland May
14-23
14 May 2007
The Acting Minister of Health Mr Jeff Radebe is leading a South African
delegation to represent the interests of the country at the 60th World Health
Assembly (WHA) being convened in Geneva, Switzerland, 14 to 23 May.
The focus of the Assembly is to review and approve the six-year World Health
Organisation medium-term strategic plan 2008-2013, together with the first
two-year Programme Budget 2008-2009. The Member States will review the plan and
the proposed budgets, looking at broad objectives and implications.
The WHA will also debate and approve 21 Resolutions, which include, among
others, implementation of the global strategy on prevention and control of
non-communicable diseases; progress on the rational use of medicines including
better medicines for children; health systems including emergency care systems;
polio and smallpox eradication; avian flu; malaria; tuberculosis (TB); oral
health and health promotion.
South Africa will participate in all sessions of the Assembly and
contribute, in particular, to those priority areas identified by South Africa,
the Southern African Development Community region and the African Union,
including the following:
* avian and pandemic influenza health promotion in globalised world
* malaria, including proposals for establishment of Malaria Day
* tuberculosis (TB) control: progress and long-term planning
* strengthening of health information systems
* smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks
* health conditions in the occupied Palestine territory
South Africa will also highlight, among others, lessons learnt in the
implementation of the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course Strategy (DOTS)
in our TB programme, and experience in prevention and control of drug resistant
TB including extreme drug resistant TB (XDR-TB).
The delegation also intends to urge the Assembly to report on progress
regarding development of the Post Polio Eradication Immunisation Policy or
guidance on minimising the risk of re-introduction of wild poliovirus.
Among the highlights of this year's Assembly will be the performance by
students from the University of Cape Town, Ms Pretty Yende (soloist) and Adrian
More (pianist), at the opening of the General Assembly. This once again
provides South Africa with an opportunity to expose its young talent to the
world.
Enquiries:
Charity Bhengu
Cell: 083 679 7424
Issued by: Department of Health
14 May 2007
Source: Department of Health (http://www.doh.gov.za/)
