WHO’s Health Assembly, the world’s largest health policy-making body opened its 66th Session in Geneva with around 3000 participants from around the world. Major health issues to be discussed include:
- preventing and controlling noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancers and chronic lung disease;
- monitoring of progress countries are making towards the Millennium Development Goals;
- intensifying efforts to eradicate polio;
- protecting more children from vaccine-preventable diseases;
- supporting countries in their efforts to move forward with universal health coverage.
In her opening address to the Health Assembly, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan noted that the world is facing challenging times, including financial crisis, job insecurity, armed conflicts and large numbers of people living on the edge, fearing for their lives.
“In these troubled times, public health looks more and more like a refuge, a safe harbor of hope that allows, and inspires, all countries to work together for the good of humanity,” says Dr Chan. Read more about the 66th World Health Assembly here.