61st World Health Assembly
Notes from Day 3: Wednesday, 21 May 2008
COMMITTEES
Female genital mutilation: Most Member States denounced female genital mutilation (FGM) as a violation of human rights. It was noted that 3 million women face the risk of FGM every year in more than 30 countries, mainly in Africa. About 100-140 million women have been victims of the harmful practice. Many countries have made it a criminal practice by law, but this deeply rooted tradition is still often practiced clandestinely in rural areas. The Minister of Health of Guinea, speaking on behalf of the 46 countries of the WHO African Region, called for additional measures. The representative of Sudan, speaking on behalf of the 22 countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region said that this practice should not be tolerated. Both regions supported the resolution. Responding to delegates, Ms Daisy Mafubelu, Assistant Director-General - Family and Community Health, said it was important to implement the laws and policies outlawing FGM. Overall , the draft resolution received strong support and a working group will meet tomorrow to finalize the draft.
Immunization: More than 40 delegations took the floor this morning to describe the status of immunization in their countries, their efforts, future plans and successes. The 68% reduction in measles deaths globally in just six years of accelerated activities points to the potential for such achievements in other areas of immunization, said Ms Daisy Mafubelu, Assistant Director-General - Family and Community Health. Still, the delegate from New Zealand noted: "Too many of our children are dying of diseases that are vaccine-preventable."
Constraints raised by governments included financial support especially for new, more expensive life-saving vaccines and for low middle-income countries who are not eligible for support from the GAVI Alliance. The importance of high data quality and injection safety were also of concern to Member States. Ms Mafubelu welcomed the progress achieved so far, but warned that unless more efforts are made, the full potential of immunization to reduce under five child mortality would not be realized. The resolution on the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy received wide support and several amendments proposed by countries will be circulated.
International Health Regulations: Committee A today approved a draft resolution on the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR). Member States called on the WHO Secretariat to further support the signatories of the IHR in the establishment of national surveillance and response systems as well as for capacity at airports, ports and ground crossings. In addition, Member States requested more frequent reporting on progress of IHR implementation, and continued support from WHO on the maintenance of communications tools for national IHR focal points. These tools include, for example, a restricted access web site commonly known as the IHR Event Information Site, dedicated to national IHR focal points, on which significant public health events are posted. The momentum among Member States to fulfil IHR requirements was high.
Health of migrants: The number of migrants -- international workers, displaced persons, refugees, returnees and others -- is increasing. Migrants may bring their health problems with them and be exposed to new ones as they resettle. Portugal proposed a World Health Assembly resolution which requests an assessment of the health aspects associated with migrants. It also called for the formulation of public health principles to address key challenges in terms of health determinants and systems to improve migrant health outcomes. Some minor amendments were proposed to be reconsidered in Committee later Thursday.
TECHNICAL BRIEFINGS
Social determinants of health: The conditions in which people live and work - the social determinants of health - help enhance or erode their health. At the direction of Health Assembly in 2005, the Commission on Social Determinants of Health has been examining these factors. Today, the chair of the commission, Professor Sir Michael Marmot briefed delegates on the key recommendations of the commission's work. Sir Michael said the commission's final report will pose recommendations under three action areas: the conditions of daily life; the structural drivers of those conditions; and the monitoring and training needed to measure progress. Concrete examples of implementing a social determinants approach to health were given from Brazil, Finland, India and Sri Lanka, as well as the International Organization of Migration. A common theme throughout the briefing was the need for more participation and representation from all stakeholder groups in these debates.
SIDE EVENTS
Health worker training: The number of people currently being trained to become health workers falls far below the levels needed to ensure health goals are met, says a new report released today by the Global Health Workforce Alliance, a WHO partnership. The report Scaling up, saving lives was issued at an event at the Health Assembly. The 2006 World Health Assembly Resolution (59.23) called on all Member States to help rapidly increase the number of health workers. In response, GHWA asked a group of experts to review and report on the experiences and research from around the world, and to draw up proposals on how to scale up the education and training of health workers. Drawing on case studies from 10 countries, the report details a set of recommendations.