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Sixty-first World Health Assembly
Date: 19-24 May 2008
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
The 61st session of the World Health Assembly took place in Geneva during 19-24 May 2008. Attended by a record 2704 participants from 190 countries, this session of the Health Assembly discussed a number of public health issues and adopted several resolutions.
One of the key resolutions adopted by the 61st World Health Assembly is aimed at removing intellectual property barriers to essential research and development for public health. The resolution includes a Global strategy on public health, innovation and intellectual property. The Health Assembly also:
- Endorsed a six-year action plan to tackle noncommunicable diseases, now the leading threats to human health;
- Called upon WHO to present at the World Health Assembly in 2010 a draft global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol;
- Adopted a resolution urging Member States to take decisive action to address health impacts from climate change;
- Committed Member States to accelerating action towards the elimination of the practice of female genital mutilation through laws and educational and community efforts.
- Directed WHO to help countries in reaching higher coverage of immunization and to encourage development of new vaccines; and
- Requested WHO to assess the health aspects in migrant environments and to explore options to improve the health of migrants.
The Health Assembly also discussed the programme budget, administration and management matters of WHO.
NEWS
Daily notes from proceedings
World Health Assembly sets bold new action for WHO
24 May 2008
World Health Assembly opens
19 May 2008
SPEECHES
Reverend Desmond Mpilo Tutu
Archbishop Emeritus, Cape Town, and Nobel Prize Laureate
Transcript
Video [streaming wmv, 37:27]
Her Royal Highness Muna Al Hussein
Princess of Jordan
Video [streaming wmv, 21:00]
Dr Leslie Ramsammy
President of the 61st World Health Assembly
Transcript
Video [streaming wmv, 34:00]
Dr Margaret Chan
WHO Director-General
Opening address
Video of opening address [streaming wmv, 36:02]
Closing remarks
Dr Halfdan Mahler
Former WHO Director-General
Transcript
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MULTIMEDIA
Photographs
Selected photographs from each day, high-resolution versions also available
Our health, our future: 60 years of WHO
Video [streaming wmv, 00:07:56]
Special podcast on 60 years of WHO
Duration 00:06:01 [mp3 3.44Mb]
KEY ISSUES
Harmful use of alcohol
Climate change and health
Female genital mutilation
Noncommunicable diseases
Public health, innovation and intellectual property
DOCUMENTATION
Agenda, daily Journal and other documents
Guidelines and information for media
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