Thursday 17th, MAY 2007

COMMITTEE A (Morning)

Item 11 was briefly continued as it had been left unfinished the day before. Issues on the Draft medium-term strategic plan, including proposed programme budget 2008-2009, were discussed. The central points were the need of monitoring its implementation, the requirement for more financial support, and the necessity for a clear division between authority and resources. The Islamic republic of Iran asked for periodic reporting, Liberia demanded a strengthening of the partnership between States, and the Russian Federation emphasized on the necessity of increasing the dialogue between States and with other organizations such as NGOs. WHO thanked the support from all States and reminded that the Medium-term strategic plan was very complementary with the 11 General Programme Work.

Item 12, Technical and health matters, over Malaria, the consideration of the resolution EB120/R16, and the proposal of including a Malaria Day, was examined. The States were invited to speak, either to make a contribution, to ask for an amendment, or to express their points of view over the matter. 37 States intervened in the discussion. It was reminded that some regions are disturbed by the magnitude of the burden created by the existence of Malaria and that the illness is causing problem on a social level as well as on an economic level. The challenge would be to find new anti-malaria drugs as the resistance to existing drugs and to insecticide is increasing therefore posing a new challenge. A will for the increasing of Research was clearly stated throughout this meeting by many States. An increase support to high burdened countries and the prevailing of the re-emergence of Malaria in certain regions was mentioned.

China proposed to eliminate taxes, USA supported this idea, over the medication and tools that are used to fight the disease. At the Abuja summit, the African countries, which are the most severely touched be the disease, reaffirmed their commitment to fight Malaria. The African region wants to channel more resources in preventive therapies and alternative tools to fight the Malaria. Switzerland made the proposition of adding police and repression to the interdiction of counterfeit medication. Thailand did raise an important concern about the use of DDT which can have great environmental issues and argued that the information on the impact of DDT is still inadequate, in Thailand it is considered as toxic. The doctors replied that according to the WHO the DDT can be used in some States in Africa where it is needed and it will be under WHO guidelines.

The World Malaria Day was wholly admitted as a useful idea to promote the prevention of the disease more actively worldwide. The only sceptical State was Mexico who argued that a World Day could not surely help the battle against the disease.
The Africa Malaria day, observed in April 25, was chosen to become the World Malaria Day. Here some States made reserves. China started by saying that Malaria was a disease depending on seasons and that April doesn’t correspond to the epidemiological calendar on her territory. And she added that the 25th of April was already the day of infantile vaccines in China and therefore the Malaria day would have less positive impacts if chosen to be on this date. The Venezuela Bolivarian Republic prefers the date to be in November as do other South American states. But it was reminded that Africa is suffering the most from Malaria and that the all continent, with other States such as for example Indonesia or Bhutan, support the idea of having the World Malaria Day on the 25th of April, day of the Africa’s Malaria day.

The resolution EB120/R16 received overall a large support.
The Committee will think of the issues discussed and report the changes in the week.



COMMITTEE B (Morning)


Item 14: During this second meeting of Committee B, the debate on the issue of health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, which was led during le first session, has been carried on during this second session. Several state representatives took the floor to express their views on the health situation in the Gaza strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan.

The D.D of Senegal pointed out the numerous difficulties of implementation of health services in the occupied territories. He called for a more effective promotion of health services and a more effective technical assistance.

The D.D of Malaysia expressed his preoccupation concerning the degrading health situation in the occupied territories, reaching a critical level. He called for a stronger collective reaction in order to ensure a better general health situation.

The D.D of Cuba expressed his concern regarding the deterioration of the situation due to the Israeli policy of occupation, leading to serious health problems. Cuba evoked the obstacles to free circulation, the degrading infrastructure of health system, increasing unemployment, precariousness, and the problems of malnutrition and food supply.
Therefore, Cuba asserted that the basic rights of Palestinians are being denied, supports the creation of an independent state of Palestine with East Jerusalem for capital, and reaffirms the illegal nature of the Israeli settlement in the territories.
Finally, Cuba sponsors the draft resolution and calls for the support of the other members of the international community.

The D.D of China expresses his concern regarding the shortage of access to food and fuel for the population, the degrading health and medical infrastructure. Moreover, China condemns the oppressive Israeli policy, obstructing the aid of the international community addressed to the Palestinian population.
China reaffirms its support to the draft resolution.

The D.D of the United Arab Emirates recalled the humanitarian crisis that characterizes the situation in the occupied territories, considering the high level of poverty and the weak implantation of health assistance. The UAE condemned the increasing presence of check points, security measures implemented by Israel. Besides, the UAE expressed their regret regarding the lack of interest of the international community on this issue.

The D.D of Algeria supports the previous views made on the deterioration of the health situation in the Palestinian territories. He observed the fact that Palestinians can’t reach minimum health standards upheld by the international community. In addition, Algeria approved previous reports of the Human Rights Council on the matter and supports the plan of sending a fact-finding mission. Finally, Algeria called for all the members’ consideration of the situation to avoid further violations.


The D.D of Venezuela deplores the lack of health assistance for the Palestinian population, calls for Israel to stop restriction on mobility, including the construction of the wall.

The D.D of South Africa affirmed that this human crisis should receive more attention and assistance on the basis of the reports made by the fact finding group. South Africa condemns the constraints imposed by Israel regarding access to health care for chronic diseases.

The D.D of Indonesia expressed his concern concerning the deteriorating health conditions as previously mentioned, calls for increased assistance and supports the draft resolution.

The D.D of Kuwait evoked the importance of removing all political considerations and focus on humanitarian factors. Kuwait expressed its concern regarding the health situation in the occupied territories, supports the draft resolution, and calls for health for all, for the need to put pressure on Israel to stop any further measure which would worsen the situation.

The D.D of Tunisia expressed his concern regarding the rapid deterioration of the situation, calls for the instauration of more effective medical institutions to provide health care. Tunisia reaffirms its support to the draft resolution.

The D.D of Syria intervened again, condemning Israel for flattening the gravity of the violations reported. Moreover, Syria deplored several practices on the Syrian Golan, such as testing drugs on detainees, or using landmines. Syria calls for all states’ support of the draft resolution.

The D.D of Israel briefly responded by condemning Syria assertions (despising tone).

The draft resolution was adopted: For: 106, against: 7, Abstention/Absence: 55



Item 15: the session was followed by debates and adoption of resolutions regarding financial matters



Committee A (afternoon)

The item discussed was the fight against tuberculoses (TB). This is the item 12.6 of the agenda. The title is “Tuberculosis control: Progress and long term planning.”

Iraq was the first country to speech. It emphasized the fact that the situation regarding TB has worsen after the war in 2003. India highlighted the fact that more than 1000 people die in India every day due to TB. Gambia said that it has made significant progress. Germany spoke on behalf of the European Union. The EU wants to support initiatives of WHO member states financially. Senegal talked about its national programme. Eritrea raised the issue of the need of a quality control system. Thailand wants to work more closely with international donors and agencies. Botswana has a successful national fight programme against TB; especially its TV programme regarding TB gives good results. The Netherlands and the following other EU member states linked their opinion to the German statement. The Netherlands more specifically wants to give more attention to vulnerable people such as migrants and ethnic minorities. Papua New Guinea considers TB as a development problem. Bangladesh mentioned its efforts to include the TB in the broader framework of MDGs. Swaziland said that Africa is the continent which still has a raising number of TB cases. One of the amendments of Swaziland aims to link TB and HIV/Aids more closely. Micronesia referred to its limited resources and geographical constraints. Malta talked about the influx of migrants to its island. 65 percent of the TB cases are imported cases. Kenya and the following African countries referred to the statement made by Swaziland. Portugal referred to the fact that specific population groups and areas are especially endangered of TB. It made also the link to migrants of countries with a high TB danger. Malawi declared TB as urgency. Africa is sitting on a time bomb, the representative of Malawi said. Ethiopia linked the issue of TB to the disease of HIV. The Bahamas talked on the behalf of 14 members of the Caribbean. It raised the issue of increased migration from countries with high TB rates. Zambia said that 70 percent of the people infected of TB are also infected of HIV. Burundi considers TB as one of its priorities of its health policy. The representative of a NGO said that TB is still a leading factor of mortality world wide. But generally, the pandemic is on decline. One of the regional directors said that powerful partnerships of countries and agencies need to be formed.
The chairman asked the secretariat to prepare a paper with the different recommendations of the member states. Totally, 43 countries made a statement.



COMMITTEE B (Afternoon)

Item 15 (continued)
Financial matters

Item 15.7
Appointment of the External Auditor
There was three countries with nominated candidates to be considered as the next auditor of the WHO. India, Indonesia and Philippines. The candidate of India is the current external auditor of WHO and he is appointed since 2004.
Each of the candidates was given the floor so as to make a brief personal introduction.
The results of the vote are the following ones:

 Countries entitled to vote: 180
 Absent: 55
 Abstention: 1
 Null: 0
 Present and voting: 124
Simple majority reached with 63 votes

 INDIA: 80 votes = >Re-election of the Indian external auditor
 INDONESIA: 26 votes
 PHILIPPINES: 18

Item 17
Staffing matters

Item 17.1
Human resources: annual report
The D.D. of Canada and of the Russian Federation welcomed the efforts made by the Secretariat and the Human Resources department for the quality of their annual report.
The Russian Federation expressed his concerns as for. The issue of the mobility policies and asked the Secretariat to show clearly the progress achieved in that field. He also stressed the lack of human resources in European office and finally asked for a clarification of the situation of implementation of WHO standards.
The D.D. of Namibia and U.S.A. raised the issue of the employment of female within the WHO asking for a clear objective.

A Representative of the Secretariat answered positively to all the remarks.

For the following items, no state member took the floor and the president has declared those points as approved.

Item 17.2
Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules

Item 17.3
Report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board

Item 17.4
Appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee
Dr J. de la Rivière (Canada) and Dr Youssouf (Maldives) were appointed until May 2010.

Item 12
Technical and Health Matters

Item 12.16
WHO'§s role and responsibilities in Health Research