Minister Meriton at World Health Assembly |16 May 2005

Whilst in Geneva Minister Meriton will also participate in the 41st Regional Health Ministers Conference of the East, Central and Southern African Health Community (ECSA) and the formal meeting of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa for the African Region delegates.

Minister Meriton is accompanied by Dr. Jude Gedeon, director general for Community Health and Mrs Marie-Antoinette Hoareau, vice-president of the Nurses Association of the Republic of Seychelles (Nars).

The World Health Assembly, the supreme decision-making body of the WHO, meets once a year and is attended by delegations from all of WHO’s 192 member States.

Its main function is to determine the policies of the Organisation.  It also appoints the director general and supervises the financial policies of the Organisation. 

This year, the Assembly will review the Proposed Programme Budget for 2006-2007. 

Other issues to be discussed include the revision of the International Health Regulations and a draft global immunisation strategy.

Seychelles has been designated to serve on the Nominations Committee along with Cameroon, Comoros, Gambia, Seneral and Togo.  Dr Jude Gedeon will represent Seychelles on the committee.

Minister Meriton and his delegation are expected to meet with the director general of the WHO, H.E Dr Lee Jong-Wook, the Regional Director, H.E Dr Luis G. Sambo, the Commonwealth deputy secretary general, H.E Mr Winston Cox and other ministers of health to discuss health priorities including strategies to halt the rise of maternal deaths.

Also present will be representatives of partner UN organisations and non-government organisations working in health.