New York -- The World Health Organization and the United Nations Department of Public Information are organizing an exhibition on Poverty and Health: Challenges to Development in Africa at the UN headquarters in New York City on Monday, 16 September. This exhibition will be launched under the patronage of the Heads of State who initiated the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the UN Deputy Secretary General Louise Frechette. As the first international health exhibition of its kind to be mounted by the WHO Regional Office for Africa, it is being mounted on the sidelines of the day-long discussion of how the UN General Assembly will support NEPAD.

"The link between poverty and health is no longer in doubt," comments WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Ebrahim M. Samba. "In the African context, the heavy burden of disease causes a significant loss of output which, in turn, accentuates the gap between the actual and potential economic growth in the region. Reducing the burden of disease, a noble goal in itself, will directly increase countries' potential to increase production and achieve the high growth rates that are so vital for poverty reduction."

The exhibition will provide graphic illustrations of the link between poverty and health and show how communicable and non-communicable diseases have been undermining development efforts in Africa. Specifically, it will highlight how the diseases of poverty--Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis-along with childhood diseases and maternal and perinatal conditions have been eroding the health gains made by most African countries since their independence in the 1960s. Efforts being made by African governments, WHO and other development partners will also be showcased.

Dr. Samba adds, "By this exhibition, we hope to attract the attention and support of the international community, particularly our partners in the North, to help us in Africa accelerate and intensify action in at least two key areas. First, we need to scale up proven and well-targeted interventions to drastically reduce mortality; and, second, we need to strengthen and increase financing of health systems in order to ensure a large-scale and more sustainable response."

Dr. Samba states that the acute and large-scale humanitarian crisis in southern Africa demonstrates how poverty can interact with other factors to threaten or further worsen human health. "When poverty and natural disasters join forces," he says, "the health implications can be staggering. The power of this combination is currently being demonstrated in southern Africa where food shortages caused by erratic weather conditions are in alliance with poverty, low purchasing power, lean government health budgets, HIV/AIDS and faltering health systems to put an estimated 14 million people at risk."

"While globalization and the interdependence of human health are creating frightening vulnerabilities," adds Dr. Ebrahim Samba, "they are also generating imperatives for countries of the North and South to work together to confront shared perils."

The WHO Regional Office for Africa and the WHO New York Liaison Office initiated The Helping Communities Help Themselves Campaign in March 2002 as an effort to support the ongoing work of community-based organizations in Africa in effectively addressing the issues of poverty and health on-ground. Over 30 projects in the areas of HIV/AIDS, water and sanitation, poverty alleviation, malaria and leprosy have been identified to date for funding by WHO representatives in Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Uganda. The cost for each one ranges from US$10,000 to US$120,000.

"In this way, governments, foundations, corporations and individuals can form partnerships to generate support for these communities in Africa," said Dr. Samba. "Poverty means more than the lack of income. It means the denial of opportunities and choices most basic to human development like the opportunity to lead a creative life and to enjoy a decent standard of living and self-esteem."

The exhibition will run in the United Nations General Assembly Visitors' Lobby at First Avenue and E. 46th Street from 16 to 26 September. The launching ceremony will start at 6:45 p.m. The Heads of State of the initiating countries of NEPAD (Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa) have been invited to attend.

Poverty and Health: Challenges to Development in Africa is designed as a mobile exhibition and will be mounted at various international fora in the coming months.

World Health Organization Office at the United Nations 
2 UN Plaza, 9th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10017 
Tel. (212) 963-4394; 963-4388 Fax (212) 963-8565 
Contact: Mr Sam Ajibola (212) 963-4388 
Ms Dorothy Davis (212) 963-3952 
Ms Celinda Verano (212) 963-6000