World Health Assembly discusses reform, critical health issues
--But how far will reform go?
Reform of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other critical global health issues are being discussed by the World Health Assembly, as its 65th session ends on Saturday in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Assembly is discussing a number of public health issues including as universal health coverage, noncommunicable diseases, mental disorders and nutrition, but the reform in the WHO global reform process is not yet known.
A WHO statement said other issues being discussed are Millennium Development Goals, adolescent pregnancy, polio eradication, research and development and International Health Regulations.
During the week, WHO announced it would declare a global polio emergency.
The agency said instead of being eradicated as earlier thought, there is now a resurgence of polio cases in –Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
WHO spoke of the need to deal with complacency, in order to eradicate the deadly virus forever.
This year has seen a decline in cases, but health officials say they have only half the funding they need to wipe out the disease.
Polio eradication programmed Spokeswoman, Sona Bari, said the world faced a “now or never” moment.
At the same time, WHO Director General Dr, Margaret Chan has been reappointed for a second term in office.
The World Health Assembly appointed Dr Chan for a second five-year term to head the UN health agency at its sixty-fifth session, which is due to end today, Saturday in Geneva, Switzerland.
In line with the WHO Constitution, the Director-General is appointed by the Health Assembly on nomination by the WHO Executive Board.
Dr Chan took office in November 2006.
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