Addis Ababa, 22 August 2006-- The fifty-sixth session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa will be held from 28 August to 1 September in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Regional Committee is WHO’s Governing Body at the regional level. Its purpose is to review WHO’s work in the region and give orientations on suggested actions to improve the health situation in its 46 Member States.

The Regional Committee, to be attended by Ministers of Health from the 46 Member States of WHO in the African Region, will discuss the 2004 – 2005 biennial report to be presented by the Regional Director, Dr Luis Sambo. Other items on the agenda of the five-day meeting include a review of the strategies for renewing and accelerating HIV prevention, health financing, improving child survival and the Expanded Programme on Immunization. Delegates will also review the progress of polio eradication efforts in Africa, the current situation of river blindness and the implementation of the international health regulations in the region.

Suggestions for the revitalization of health services using the primary health care approach and for providing strategic directions for the use and management of information and communication technology to improve health systems and outcomes will also be considered. Other issues for discussion include pandemic influenza preparedness and response; health research; the linkages between poverty, trade and health; the proliferation of harmful, counterfeit and substandard medicines in Africa and measures to check sickle-cell disease.

A roundtable discussion on inter-sectoral action for health promotion and disease prevention as well as a panel discussion on malaria control is also planned.

His Excellency Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, will open the Regional Committee meeting. Other dignitaries invited to address the meeting include the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Stop TB; former 
President of Portugal, His Excellency Mr Jorge Sampaio; His Excellency Alpha 
Konare, Chairman of the African Union Commission; Mr Peter Engebank, Regional Director of UNICEF’s East and Southern Africa Office, and Dr Gobind Nankani, the World Bank’s Vice President for the African Region.

In attendance will be senior WHO officials including the acting WHO Director-General, Dr Anders Nordström, representatives of UN Agencies, funds and programmes; and a number of bilateral, multilateral, Inter Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations, among others.

For further information contact:

Dr A. Seddoh 
Tel: + 47241 39375
In Addis Ababa: 0911 53 23 34
Email: seddoha [at] afro.who.int Tel: + 47 241 39378

In Addis Ababa : 0911 53 23 32
Email: ajibolas [at] afro.who.int

Araya Demissie 
Tel: 0911 250830
Email: arayad [at] et.afro.who.int