Tuesday 22nd, MAY 2007

Committee B (morning)

The third draft report of Committe B (A60/609 was adopted).

Item 12.21 (continued) Technical and health matters: Progress reports

J. Reducing global measles mortality
Japan took the floor first to underline the need for more vaccine availability, especially in developing countries (DCs).
Iran said, on behalf of the Eastern Mediterranean countries, that special aid was still needed to maintain measles mortality reduction in DCs. The common goal is the eradication of measles within 2010 as the Millennium development goals (MDGs) state.
However, routine vaccination is still low in certain countries.
Guinea-Bissau, on behalf of the African region, reaffirmed its commitment to fight against measles and to reduce related mortality. The delegation also said, that maintaining the financing is necessary to preserve what has been done.
The Thai delegation: declared to have reduced by 60% its measles related mortality within 6 years. However measles rate remains at a high level and vaccine coverage needs to be further enhanced.
Oman suggested to double the dose of vaccine and to implement the catch up strategies.
The delegation of Bahamas said that the reduction of global measles mortality was the best investment to achieve goal 4 of the MDGs. Bahamas is now measles free, so could be the world.

K. Health metric Network

Benin, on behalf of the African region, asked for more data communication. Statistics should be improved in order to provide clear and updated information. The network and a good cooperation are necessary to achieve this.
Thailand asked for a better follow up of data and control. The network should also be used to reinforce the link between the regions, the cities and the Land.
The WHO Secretariat, responded to the interrogations and stated, that the partnership a t the country and institutional level should be strengthen. The program has made great progress and is been adopted by a good amount of countries.

Item 12.20 Public health, innovation and intellectual property: progress made by intergovernmental working group.

After the general debate on Friday and Monday, it was decided to create an intergovernmental working group to work on the draft resolution proposed by Brazil. Namibia was appointed chair of the group.
The delegation of Namibia reported that despite the willingness of the delegation to come to an agreement on a common text, the group after 4 hours of consultation did not come to a compromise on the text. The issue of Intellectual property being highly sensible!
Namibia proposed to close the session and to start consultations within the working group to come to an agreement on the text before the end of the WHA.
Some delegation (US, EU, Australia wanted to follow the agenda and first finish item 12.19 as scheduled before starting negotiations, as their delegations were not ready to debate due to other meetings going on)
Finally the Chairperson decided to back up the Namibian proposal to start immediately consultation of the working group and begin item 12.19 at 14:30 the afternoon.

Technical Meeting: 20th Anniversary of Safe Motherhood 13:00

The meeting was to keep inform delegations of the importance of the mother health and maternity issues. One woman dies every minute due to maternity linked issue.
What strikes us is that lives can very easily be saved because we know the causes and the remedies. I f we can save the mother we save the child.
The centrality of maternity health and reducing infant mortality is a central point in the development strategies.
Several invited speakers took the floor to express their views and actions. An British MP coordinating maternity health issues at the Parliament said that the MPs could undertake 3 actions: 1) lobbying decision makers 2) building up public supports 3) raising women’s expectations.
DG Margaret Chan was present and took the floor the underline her commitment to this important cause.
Different countries express their views in sustaining WHO and civil society actions.
The anniversary conference is to be held in London in October 18th- 20th 2007.
Special attention will be given to the link mother-child as a Nation’s health is defined by women’s health. The main idea is “Invest in women: it pays”.



COMMITTEE B (Afternoon)

Item 12

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss about the amendment made by the delegation of Mexico. This amendment consists, inter alia, in stressing the importance of medical devices. So, the distinguished delegate proposed to add "in particular medical devices" in the end of each paragraph of the second point dedicated to the requests.
The representative also proposed to delete the paragraph number (7) of the document.

Then, the representative of United States expressed his disagreement with this proposal and said he wanted to adopt the document as it is.
However, he made a proposal giving a new definition in the item 1 paragraph (5).

Mexico took the floor again to say that he accepted the US modifications.
As no objections has been made after this intervention, the chairman decided to adopt the amendments.

Thus, the meeting stopped at 16h00 and started again at 17h00

The second part of the meeting was consecrated to the adoption of the document A 60/A/conf. paper number 16.
The ambassador from Thailand (the president of the working group in the origin of the amendments) rejoiced with the spirit of compromise arising from the previous debates. While H.E. warmly called upon member states to adopt this document, he suggested bringing few modifications, inter alia, concerning centres collaborators.

As no objections has been made despite of these changes, the chairman decided to adopt the resolution.

Dr M. Chan ended the meeting by making a statement. The director-general began by congratulating those who had contributed to the adoption of this resolution. She also gave thanks to the whole delegation for the work they done, in particular H.E. the ambassador from Thailand.

Finally, the representative of Indonesia took the floor to say that this collaboration should carry on for other issues WHO related.