Pranab to inaugurate WHO-Sear meetings on Sept 8

New Delhi, Sep 5 (UNI) Health Ministers from eleven countries, including India, will attend the 26th meeting of Ministers of Health from the countries of WHO South East Asia Region (SEAR) and 61st session of Regional Committee of South East Asia Region of WHO, being held here on September 8.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the meetings while Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, will coordinate the proceedings. The meetings are being hosted by the health ministry.

Dr Margaret Chan, Director General, WHO, along with WHO Regional Director for South East Asia, Dr Samlee Pilandangchang, will be participating in the meetings.

The country delegations headed by the respective health ministers comprising senior health officers will discuss with the WHO experts key health issues confronting the South East Asia region.

The WHO Regional Committee for South East Asia meeting is likely to take up issues such as revitalising primary health care, tobacco control, reduction of maternal and neo-natal mortalities responding to emerging and re-emerging vector borne diseases, public health approach to combating HIV AIDS and issues pertaining to environment and health.

The annual health ministers' meeting is a forum to exchange national experiences on the social, political and economic dimensions of health. Besides highlighting the health challenges posed by climate change, the meeting will also discuss the status of the Millennium Development Goals.

India has significantly enhanced aggregate spending on health by the Union Government and the states to achieve these goals. National Rural Health Mission is progressing towards achieving the goal of universal access to equitable, affordable and quality health care.

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