19 March 2009-- The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, has called on Small Island Developing States to strengthen the capacity of their health workforce, particularly at the central and local levels, to improve health outcomes.

He was addressing participants at the official opening of the Meeting of African Ministers of Health of Small Island Developing States held in Praia, Cape Verde, on Wednesday 18 March 2009.

The three-day meeting is aimed at reviewing progress made by each Small Island State on the implementation of the Seychelles Declaration signed in 2006 and to chart a new way forward. It is being attended by delegates from Cape Verde, Comoros, Seychelles, Sao Tome & Principe, Mauritius and other United Nations agencies

Referring to the brain drain in the skilled health workforce, Dr Sambo said that
many initiatives were under way to address the crisis and that various forums had also discussed the ethical aspects, principles and human rights issues involved. He urged countries losing skilled health staff to provide better working conditions and adequate remuneration and to increase training capacity to minimise the negative effects of the crisis.

"The implementation of the Ouagadougou Declaration is an opportunity to consolidate decentralization, strengthen local capacity and facilitate sustainable improvement in quality health care and universal coverage. Attaining these will require efficient management of human, financial and technological resources", he said.

The Regional Director commended the five countries on the progress they had made so far in improving health. He reminded the participants of the implications of the current global financial and food crisis for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. He appealed to partners and governments to refrain from reducing health budgets as that would compromise the health gains made so far and worsen the health condition of most segments of society.

In his keynote address, the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, His Excellency Dr José Maria Neves highlighted the vulnerability of Island States and recognized the need for protection against the international financial crisis. He thanked the World Health Organization for organizing the forum to ease the exchange of ideas on issues facing Small Island States.

"This will stimulate the development of these states and the implementation of the Barbados Plan of Action," he said.

The Prime Minister pointed out that noncommunicable diseases were major problems in Small Island Developing States; he regretted that this was not reflected in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)s. He urged participants to place greater emphasis on prevention as it is much cheaper. He also appealed to the international community to support Small Island Developing States in the control of noncommunicable diseases.