Brazzaville/Geneva, 14 January 2010 -- The 126th Session of the World Health Organization's Executive Board will begin its deliberations from 18 to 23 January 2010.

The Executive Board is composed of 34 individuals technically qualified in the field of health, each one designated by a Member State elected to do so by the World Health Assembly.

Issues to be discussed are:

• implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005);
• monitoring the achievements of the health-related Millennium Development Goals;
• prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases;
• strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol;
• tuberculosis control; and
• proposed revision of WHO guidance on psychoactive substances for international control.

For further information please contact

Collins Boakye-Agyemang,
Communications and Advocacy Officer
Tel: 00 47 241 39420
E-mail: boakyec [at] afro.who.int (boakyec[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int)