WHA President calls for halt to domestic violence

May 21, 2008 News

…says WHO timid to tackle sexual abuse

Domestic violence and sexual abuse, particularly of young children is one of the many issues that the new President of the World Health Assembly wants to see tackled by the World Health Organisation, (WHO).

Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy who now holds the presidency of the WHA told the 61st Assembly yesterday that it was necessary to dig out the root causes of the problem of domestic and sexual violence.

He identified substance abuse as a major determinant and noted that domestic and sexual violence was a social issue that the WHO had been “too timid” to tackle.

“Some persons have questioned our legitimacy in the fight against domestic and sexual violence, putting the responsibility upon social services and security sectors. I posit we have strong legitimacy in demanding a place at the table in tackling these social issues. These are Health for All issues.”

Turning to the issue of disability, Dr. Ramsammy said that it had occupied an orphan status for far too long on the public health agenda.

“We must correct this anomaly. People living with disabilities cannot be ignored any longer and we need to ensure that public health caters equitably for their needs.”

Minister Ramsammy was of the opinion that the technology and the tools to prevent blindness and impaired vision were available and that the WHO should ensure that those were more widely accessible to avoid preventable blindness.

The Health Minister was also adamant that the WHO must take a lead in advocating a prudent way forward with regards to finding alternatives for fossil fuels as part of the interventions to reverse the effects of global warming.

Dr. Ramsammy also added that in addition to this, conversion of land from food production to biofuel production is a real threat to public health. He insisted that “we need an agreement to ensure conversion of land from food production to biofuel does not precipitate further a food crisis and, thus, a public health crisis. The WHO must take a lead in advocating a prudent way forward.”

In stressing the need for greater emphasis to be placed on mental health, Ramsammy stated that “there is no health without mental health” and advocated for cost-effective, evidence informed mental health care to all those who require it without discrimination and to ensure equal access to all health care for those with mental illness. He further stressed the need to focus on preventable child deaths. “One preventable child death must be considered a calamity. How then do we accept ten million child deaths per year?”

Dr Ramsammy also urged WHO to advocate for greater vaccine productivity to meet the world’s demands and to ensure pre-qualification mechanisms are strengthened to accommodate greater input by fledgling producers.

He pointed out that Guyana supports the quest for high quality vaccines, but also is of the view that existing mechanisms are designed to reduce competition. He pointed out that developing countries such as India, Brazil and Cuba had proven that they have the capacity and commended GAVI for procuring about 40% of their vaccines from some of these sources.

Also speaking at the opening session were Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General World Health Organization and Ms Jane Halton, Minister of Health, Australia and outgoing President of the World Health Assembly.

The World Health Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), which meets in Geneva in May each year. It is attended by approximately 193 Member States and their delegations.

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WHA President calls for halt to domestic violence

…says WHO timid to tackle sexual abuse

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