120th WHO Executive Board session

Date: 22-30 January 2007
(Ended one day early of schedule)
Location: Geneva, Switzerland

The WHO Executive Board's 120th session took place in Geneva from 22 to 29 January 2007. It opened with a speech by the new Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, and discussed a number of public health issues. Among the issues on the agenda were: measles prevention and control; malaria; chronic diseases; avian and pandemic influenza; implementation of the International Health Regulations; tuberculosis control; and oral health.

The Board agreed on resolutions on a number of issues, including polio eradication, tuberculosis, health systems and emergency-care systems, oral health, a gender strategy, avian and pandemic influenza, and smallpox. The resolutions will be submitted to the World Health Assembly in May 2007.

The Board is composed of 34 members technically qualified in the field of health. Members are elected for three-year terms.

The main Board meeting is held in January where the agenda for the forthcoming World Health Assembly is agreed upon and resolutions to forward for consideration at the Health Assembly are adopted. A second shorter meeting is held in May, immediately after the Health Assembly.

The main functions of the Board are to give effect to the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly, to advise it and generally to facilitate its work.