Harare, 21 Oct. 2015 :  2015 marks the global celebration of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, (UN) which aims to honor the historic breadth of the Organization’s development, security and human rights work. Globally, the “UN @ 70” celebration also aims to unite Member States, global civil society and the many individual women and men working in common cause to enable a strong UN to realize a better world. In Zimbabwe, the UN Country Team organized a series of events to mark the 70th anniversary of the UN.

Activities to mark UN @ 70 started with a school outreach and tree planting ceremony from 14—15 October. Heads of UN Agencies visited different schools to talk about the UN and plant 70 trees, 1 for each year of the existence of the UN. 7 schools were identified in Harare and Chitungwiza and 10 trees were planted at each of the 7. WR Zimbabwe, Dr David Okello, went to Hatfield Girls High School where he gave a statement about the UN in general and WHO as the lead agency in Health. Dr Okello and the Headmistress of Hatfield Girls High  led the tree planting ceremony, and at the end of the 2 days, 70 new trees were planted at the different schools .

The other event to mark UN @70 was a UN Family Fun and Wellness Day. The day was held for all  UN staff in Zimbabwe, and their dependents at the WHO Highlands complex.  The wellness days which were launched by WHO in 2010, were this year organized for the whole UN family in Zimbabwe, as part of the UN @ 70 commemorations. Different service providers and practitioners set up tents within the WHO compound and people were visiting them for free consultation and advice. Services that were available included displays by diverse healthcare providers of their products specifically tailored to address the health needs of staff and dependents;  practical demonstrations to give a hands-on opportunity for learning and having fun; presentations on parent –child communication and healthy life styles; eye screening; dental care; nutrition; legal aid services, women’s health services; child abuse/cyber abuse, and road safety. Testing services were also available for blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol, and HIV testing and counselling.  Blood Transfusion Services for those willing to donate blood were also available.

In his welcoming statement, WHO Representative, Dr David Okello appreciated the confidence shown in WHO to host the function. He said he hoped that the messages and information people will pick from the exhibitors will encourage people to stay healthy. He moaned the fact that people do not invest enough in keeping themselves healthy, but rather invest more in the treatment of illness. “We use this occasion to appeal to you to invest time and money in maintaining good health; and to ask the service providers here to give out health information and advice which will empower UN staff and their dependents to take charge of their health,”

The same sentiments were shared by Mr  Bishow Parajuli, UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator who said UN staff should take the event seriously as it provides an opportunity to take care of their own health.

The family fun and wellness day had something for everybody including comedy shows, entertainment by some top DJs in Harare, some cultural shows, jumping castles for the kids, and food for everybody.

On the morning of 21 October, another event in the series of events to commemorate UN@70  - a joint Government and UN media breakfast meeting was held.  The objective of the media breakfast meeting was to launch a nationwide awareness raising on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and brief the media as well as national and international development partners on how Zimbabwe intends to implement the 17 SDGs.

The breakfast meeting, which was presided over by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr M.J.M. Sibanda, and the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr Bishow Parajuli, highlighted the recently adopted 2030 global Agenda for Sustainable Development and its landmark 17 SDGs. It also highlighted joint Government and UN collaboration and how Zimbabwe aims to implement the SDGs.

The commemoration of UN @70 will culminate in a  main reception to be held on 23 October in the WHO compound under the theme “From MDGs to SDGs – The Zimbabwe We Want” The event is expected to be attended by a cross section of people including senior government officials, and traditional leaders to discuss how Zimbabwe will implement the SDGs.

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For more information, please contact:

JULIAS Wendy, Email: juliasw [at] who.int (juliasw[at]who[dot]int)