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On April 7, will be the World Health Day in commemoration of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO). This year's theme of the day is international health security and the slogan "invest in health, build a safer future." The day aims to raise awareness among governments, leaders and organizations on the problems of global health at a time when many threats to our safety at all, such as natural disasters, new emerging diseases, environmental changes virus AIDS or biological terrorist attacks.
As a prelude to this day will be held on April 7 a large global debate organized by the WHO and to be held in Singapore on April 2. Political leaders, representatives of business and influential people will participate. This debate aims to inform about the dangers hanging over global health at the beginning of the twenty-first century and the importance of investing together to fight in every possible way against these threats. For this discussion, WHO hopes lead to an improvement of cross-border cooperation in finding solutions to problems of health, trade and diplomatic opposition.
Following the debate, the 200 participants from the public will be invited to speak in turn.
This theme of a global health security seems very relevant at the beginning of the twenty-first century, where diseases spread very quickly because of the ease of movement from one country to another. Leaders have a duty to promote international cooperation, since they have responsibilities to each vis-à-vis others. Fortunately, as everyone is well aware. It must be said that the recent outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and bird flu as the devastation caused by the recent floods in Indonesia and Africa (not to mention the tsunami of December 2004) were big enough to seriously worry.
This anxiety has led to adopt a revised International Health Regulations in 2005 and which will enter into force on June 15, 2007. Its aim is to ensure maximum safety and minimal interference with transportation and trade. The new regulations require that countries inform WHO of all emergencies of international concern public health. For its part, WHO will work with countries to investigate, to verify and respond to threats and protect people worldwide.
To guide discussions and helping to start the debate, WHO has released yesterday, Thursday, March 29, a document listing 8 points in relation to international health security.
Emerging diseases. These highly contagious diseases do not care borders and can not be regarded as national disease, confined to their own countries emerging. In recent decades, each year a new disease has appeared.
Economic stability. The public health problems may have economic consequences. Caring for sick very expensive, it is important to prevent the spread of disease.
International crises and humanitarian emergencies. An emergency mobilizes health systems, which are no longer available while everyone continues to be needed for his personal health.
Terrorist threats chemical, radioactive or biological weapons. Such threats are taken very seriously and WHO knows coping with the health effects of these threats. These are but few examples such as anthrax or sarin gas in the Tokyo subway showed that people have such intentions unhealthy and may well again.
Environmental change. The climate-related natural disasters are often destructive. But it is difficult to prevent their effects.
HIV / AIDS.
Building safety, with the entry into force of the revised International Health Regulations.
Strengthening health systems. Some health systems that work well form the basis of safety, but the current state of health systems in the world is inadequate. For example, the world is currently short of more than four million health workers, which is felt most acutely in developing countries. |
