Friday, February 24, 2012

Blog 5 WHO intensifies health diplomacy to improve Africa’s health

 In an article dated February 20th 2012, "WHO, under the leadership of its Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, organized information and sensitization sessions for diplomats accredited to the Republic of Congo and based in Brazzaville where the Africa Regional Office of WHO is hosted since 1952." The World Health Organization is pushing developing countries, especially Africa, to achieve the improvements set out in the Millennium Development Goals, greater efforts to stop the spread of polio virus must be taken, governments are pushed to make more investments in health, "African governments must strive to meet the commitment of Heads of State to allocate 15% of their national budgets to health as stated in the Abuja Declaration", etc. It is about time that world health is regulated and taken control of. This has simply not been a high priority for developing nations as it should be. It seems as if this meeting is a fire to fuel the cause. "Dr Sambo, once again, highlighted the health situation in Africa and made concrete proposals for action by suggesting proven, evidence-based, and high impact interventions to address the health challenges facing the Region. He clearly outlined the strategic directions that guide WHO’s work in Africa from 2010 – 2015, and gave the audience an insight into the on-going reform at WHO.  When he was done, he had left his audience with very clear unambiguous messages."I have faith that one day governments will take care of their peoples as their peoples take care of them.


http://www.afro.who.int/en/media-centre/pressreleases/item/4359-who-intensifies-health-diplomacy-to-improve-africa%E2%80%99s-health.html 2/24/12

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