UN, WHO act on proposals on global health crises

DAILY NEWS Reporte

FORMER President Jakaya Kikwete.

THE UN and World Health Organisation (WHO) have started implementing the recommendations submitted to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon by the High-level Panel on the Global Response to Health Crises.

Led by former president, Dr Jakaya Kikwete, the panel handed over its report to the UN Secretary General at the end of January, this year, after accomplishing its duties. Mr Ki-Moon appointed Mr Kikwete as Chair of the panel.

The six-member panel was composed of Celso Amorim (Brazil), Micheline Calmy (Switzerland), Marty Natalegawa (Indonesia), Joy Phumapi (Botswana) and Rajav Shah (USA) and was tasked to make recommendations to strengthen national and international system to prevent and manage future health crises, taking into account lessons learned from the response to the outbreak of the dreaded Ebola.

In carrying out its duties, the panel undertook a wide range of consultations, including representatives from the affected countries and communities, the UN system, multilateral and bilateral financial regional development banks, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and countries supporting the response effort.

“We have started implementing part of your recommendations and I want to salute you for your leadership in that panel, above all I am glad that you have been able to join us today in this meeting,’’ said the UN Secretary General on Monday at the UN Security Council meeting which is led by the council’s president, Mogens Lykketoft.

Speaking through a Video Conference from Senegal, Mr Kikwete expressed optimism that the 27 recommendations that were handed over to Mr Ki-moon by the panel would help to achieve the desired goals.

Among other issues, the panel proposed that WHO builds a new centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response and ensure that the world has a standing capacity to immediately identify and respond to emerging communicable disease threats.

The Jakaya-Kikwete led panel also proposed that all countries must meet the full obligations of the International Health Regulations (IHR), adding that where capacities are lacking, support should be provided to urgently implement a core set of measures.

“With concerted efforts by all stakeholders that will be supported by political will, it is my greater expectation that we shall achieve,’’ said Mr Kikwete in a Video Conference.