Kikwete, Ban hold talks at global health meet

President Jakaya Kikwete in talks with  the UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon (left)  and other dignitaries at the UN Headquarters in New York on Moday.  PHOTO | HOUSE PHOTOS 

By The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

• According to the statement released by State House in Dar es Salaam, the Head of State met the UN Chief for the first time on Monday
• The High-level Panel on the Global Response to Health Crisis was expected to take into account lessons learned from the response to the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in West Africa.
  

Dar es Salaam. The Chairman of the United Nations High-level Panel on the Global Response to Health Crisis, President Jakaya Kikwete, on Monday met and held talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York.

According to the statement released by State House in Dar es Salaam, the Head of State met the UN chief for the first time on Monday since the latter appointed him to chair the panel, whose other members have been drawn from Brazil, Switzerland, Indonesia, Botswana and the United States.

President Kikwete and Mr Ban Ki-moon reviewed the terms of reference of the panel which is mandated to come up with recommendations to strengthen  national and international systems to prevent and manage future health crises, taking into account lessons learned from the response to the outbreak of Ebola virus.

In carrying out its work, the Panel will undertake a wide range of consultations, including with representatives from the affected countries and communities, the UN system, multilateral and bilateral financial institutions and regional development banks, non-governmental organizations, countries supporting the response effort, other member states, health care providers, academic and research institutions, the private sector, and other experts.

The panel will hold its first meeting in early May and is expected to submit its final report by the end of the year to the UN Secretary General, who will make the report available to the General Assembly, and undertake further action as appropriate.