WHO – The World Assembly meets against a background of pandemic

[15 May 2009 - 17h23]

On Monday, the 62nd session of the World Health Assembly begins in Geneva. Naturally, discussions will centre on the influenza A (H1NI) epidemic. The threat is of such concern that it has been decided to shorten the meeting from 9 to 4 days so that the Health Ministers of the 193 Member States are absent for as short a time as possible, and therefore be better able to coordinate efforts to combat flu. Discussions will therefore take place from 18th to 22nd of May.

The World Health Assembly is the supreme decision-making body of the WHO. It meets once a year to determine the Organisation’s principal policies on specifically health-related issues and also on the Agency’s internal functioning.

This year, delegations from Member States will mainly discuss the threat of pandemic associated with flu … whether avian – and therefore carried by a H5N1 virus – or swine-related as in the H1N1 virus. It is a sensitive issue, the aim being to improve and coordinate countries’ preparations for a pandemic that could result in millions of deaths.

On Monday the Assembly will debate the implementation of resolution WHA60.28 “Pandemic influenza preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits. Adopted in May 2007 by the 60th World Assembly, this resolution recommends the setting up of a global virus traceability mechanism, the renewal of strategic stocks of vaccines and the strengthening of surveillance at the animal-human interface…

Other topics on the agenda include the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005), HIV/AIDS, primary health care, the strengthening of national health systems, and monitoring the achievement of health-related Millennium Development Goals. Lastly, as is the case each year, the health situation in the Palestinian territories will be addressed.

Source : WHO, 15 May 2009

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