Ottawa – The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health for Canada, will visit London, England, and Rome, Italy, this week to take part in two international meetings on important health topics.
“Many of the health-related challenges that Canada faces are shared by other countries,” said Minister Ambrose. “That’s why we need collective thinking around these issues. I look forward to these meetings and the opportunity to work together and leverage our knowledge and resources.”
On Wednesday, December 11, Minister Ambrose will attend a G8 Dementia Summit, hosted by the UK Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt. The Summit brings together health ministers and experts from G8 countries to discuss how they can coordinate efforts and shape an international approach to addressing dementia.
While in London, the Minister will take the opportunity to discuss health innovation, mental health, violence prevention and opportunities for collaboration with her international colleagues including Secretary Hunt; Marisol Touraine, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, France; and Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General, World Health Organization.
On Friday, December 13, Minister Ambrose will participate in the 2013 Ministerial meeting of the Global Health Security Initiative in Rome, hosted by the Italian Minister of Health, Beatrice Lorenzin. Topics to be discussed include the importance of rapid virus sample sharing in response to public health threats and the need for concerted global action on antimicrobial resistance.
The Minister will also have a bilateral meeting with Mercedes Juan Lopez, Secretary of Health of Mexico, to discuss several public health issues of importance to both Canada and Mexico, including family violence, mental health and healthy living.
