|
| |
Wednesday, April 4, 2007 – “International Health Security” is the
theme for World Health Day which will be observed on Saturday April 7th. The
date also marks the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO), and is an
occasion to raise awareness of key global health issues.
In a message to mark World Health Day 2007, Director-General of the World Health
Organization, Dr Margaret Chan, said the observance will serve as an ideal
occasion, for the international community to consider the growing
interdependence of health and security, and the need to invest in health, in
order build a safer future.
“In an age of widespread global trade and travel, new and existing diseases can
cross national borders and threaten collective security. Only through strong
collaboration among developed and developing countries, with an increased focus
on information sharing, and the strengthening of public health systems and
surveillance, can nations contain the spread of diseases,” Dr. Chan said.
HIV/AIDS she added, is a powerful example of how interdependent health and
security have become. Given the growing complexity of these health and security
challenges, Dr. Chan added that a collective response is necessary and should be
one, not only by governments, but also international organizations, civil
society and the business community.
The revised International Health Regulations are expected to come into force in
June of this year.
It is hoped that those regulations will help to build and strengthen effective
mechanisms, for outbreak alert and response at national and international
levels.
|
