TECHNICAL BRIEFING: Sixty-third World Health Assembly: MDGs - Future Directions
20 MAY 2010 | GENEVA
Organizer: World Health Organization
Event dates: 20 May 2010
Venue: Geneva
The aim of the third session of the technical briefing was to explore ways to accelerate progress towards the health-related Millennium Development Goals, with a focus on the health of women and children. Special attention was paid to the critical role of the national health policy and strategy in strengthening health systems and delivering effective interventions in an integrated approach and synergy, with a focus on priorities (MDG 4 and 5). Attention was also given to the role of WHO and how it can assist countries up to and beyond 2015.
The meeting was chaired by HE Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Obaid Al Saidi, Minister of Health of Oman. The Chair emphasized in his opening speech that this World Assembly shared a great sense of optimism, being that not only are MDGs achievable, but also that the goals can be achieved at all levels of commitments. However, we know which areas to concentrate our effort on and in which countries. What we need now is a concrete action plan to accelerate progress to and beyond 2015.
The three principles to shape our work till 2015 are: political commitment from leaders at all levels; integrated delivery; and national ownership of the development agenda.
Dr. Tore Godal, Special Adviser to the Prime -Minister of Norway pointed out the importance of focusing our energies in advocacy activities, especially towards governments. "We need to convince Political leaders that funds have to be committed. The world financial crisis cannot be an excuse not to accomplish our commitments". He noted that concrete action must be consist of strong support to MNCH Consensus, the creation of a joint financial platform for MDGs and support of new technologies. All panellists agreed that we do not need to create a new system, but to enforce the existing one; this is not the time to ask for new funds, but to find the best way of using the existing ones. This is an operation on which all stakeholders must put their commitments: civil society, private sector, governments and the UN system.
Dr Salif Samakè from the Minister of Health of Mali reported the example of his country on how to improve the effectiveness of health systems. The Minister of Health of Barbados, HE Donville O. Inniss, explored the ways forward to achieve MDGs and the emerging challenges his small country will face. He focused on improving national health plans and strategies to account for integrated and comprehensive actions, so that all actors and donors work in the same direction and avoid duplications.
The discussions gave Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General the opportunity to present her conclusions of the three days technical briefings on MDGs.
She encouraged the meeting to be specific on the interventions needed in the next five years. There are countries who have made tremendous progress, like Rwanda and Ethiopia, and we need to learn from such examples to look forward in our action. Progress is being made, but huge challenges remain, including one concerning WHO itself. Our agency must assist and contribute to accelerate the progress towards MDGs. "The global health architecture is very crowded, and the biggest challenge is to find the most effective way to coordinate all these actors. There is more talk than walk. We need to change behaviour and we will do our best to involve private sector, civil society and all stakeholders. We need to be creative".
She underlined 2015 is not to be considered the finishing line, but just a step. We have to look forward on and beyond 2015 and take advantage of all opportunities to re-energize the commitments towards MDGs.