Brazzaville, 24 August 2007 -- The 57th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa is scheduled to take place from 27 to 31 August 2007 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

The Regional Committee, WHO’s Governing Body in the African Region, will consider, among others, a report on the work of WHO in the Region in 2006, to be presented by the Regional Director, Dr Luis Sambo.

The report will provide a comprehensive review of the work of WHO in the region, highlighting successes achieved and challenges faced in the pursuit of WHO’s mandate of helping to improve the health situation in Member States.

High on the agenda of the meeting are strategies for controlling the dual epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS, diabetes prevention and control, and improving food safety.

Other issues on the agenda of this year’s meeting are the resurgence of cholera in Africa, control of river blindness and the elimination of avoidable blindness; health systems strengthening; the development of human resources for health; the harmful use of alcohol in the region, and intersectoral action to improve the health status of people in the region.

The session will also discuss polio and leprosy elimination and progress made in the implementation of a recent World Health Assembly on public health, innovation and intellectual property.

A roundtable discussion on cancer prevention and control, and a panel discussion on the role of the community in improving maternal, newborn and child health are also envisaged. The roundtable and panel discussion aim at going beyond national positions and creating lively debates on possible solutions and sharing of experiences.

The five-day meeting, which is expected to be opened by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Congo, Mr. Isidore Mvouba, will be attended by WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, WHO representatives in the African Region; representatives of multilateral and bilateral agencies, NGOs, and other partners working to improve the health situation in Africa.

For more information contact:

Technical contact

Mr Denvdre Gopaul

Tel: + 47 241 39416

Email: gopauld [at] afro.who.int (gopauld[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int)

Media Contact 

Samuel T. Ajibola

Tel: + 47 241 39378

Email : ajibolas [at] afro.who.int (ajibolas[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int)