GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - Health Minister Tony Clement, attending the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, said that progress was made on several key global health issues of importance to Canada, including human pandemic influenza preparedness, HIV/AIDS, and international initiatives to control tobacco.
Minister Clement and 191 representatives of member states discussed health issues facing the world today. In particular, the Minister called on all nations to do their utmost to prepare for the threat of human pandemic influenza.
"To date, Canada has provided approximately $42 million toward international efforts on avian and human influenza pandemic preparedness, so that we can all be ready should an outbreak occur. The risks of an influenza pandemic continue, and an outbreak anywhere represents a potential threat everywhere. We must act together, as a global community," the Minister said.
Canada also urged immediate voluntary compliance with provisions of the International Health Regulations (IHRs) related to pandemic influenza. The revised IHRs, scheduled to take effect in 2007, will provide a transparent and rigorous method for responding to public health emergencies of international concern, such as a potential pandemic influenza.
"We not only strongly support this resolution, we are working very hard to promote it and I am very pleased to see this resolution before the Assembly. Early compliance is an important step toward improving global health security," Minister Clement said.
Minister Clement also invited fellow ministers to attend the XVI International AIDS Conference, which will take place in Toronto in August and where the world community will focus on how to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS.
"This key global conference, being hosted this year by Canada, will focus on how to mobilize the knowledge, the lessons, the technology and the political will so that we, as a world community, can make inroads into treating, preventing and reversing the spread of AIDS," the Minister said.
The WHA meeting is taking place from May 22-27, 2006.
-30-
Media Inquiries
Erik Waddell
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200
