REPORT: WHO Briefing on MDGs - Future directions
20 MAY 2010 | WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA
Organizer: World Health Organization
Event dates: 20 May 2010
Venue: WHO Headquarters, Geneva
Technical Briefing on MDGs - Future Directions
The aim of the third session of the technical briefing was to explore ways to accelerate progress towards the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), with a focus on the health of women and children, or MDGs 4 (reduce child mortality) and 5 (improve maternal health). 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 the priority MDGs, 4 and 5. Attention was also given to the role of WHO and how it can assist countries up to and beyond 2015.
Chair: HE Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Obaid Al Saidi, Minister of Health of Oman
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 that not only are MDGs achievable, but that the goals can be achieved at all levels of commitments. He pointed out that the ‘what to do’ and the ‘where’ to concentrate is known. However, what is now needed 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.”
WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan
The discussions gave Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General the opportunity to present her conclusions of the three days technical briefings on MDGs, Dr Chan encouraged the meeting to be specific on the interventions needed in the next five years. She said there are countries who have made tremendous progress, like Rwanda and Ethiopia, and urged everyone to learn from such examples.
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. Although progress is being made, Dr Chan admitted, huge challenges remain, including the role of WHO itself accelerating 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".
Dr Tore Godal, Special Adviser to the Prime -Minister of Norway
Dr Tore Godal, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Norway pointed out the importance of focusing 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". Dr Godal noted that concrete action must consist of strong support to the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Consensus, the creation of a joint financial platform for MDGs and support of new technologies. All panellists agreed that what is needed is enforcement in the present system rather than a completely new system. “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.”
Ministers of Health of Mali and Barbados
HE Dr Salif Samakè from the Minister of Health of Mali spoke of his country’s attempts to improve the effectiveness of health systems. The Minister of Health of Barbados, HE Donville Inniss explored the emerging challenges and way forward to achieve the MDG’s in his small country. He focused on improving national health plans and strategies to account for integrated and comprehensive actions, for all actors and donors to work in the same direction and avoid duplication.