I woke up with a doubtful mind on cloudy and freezy Monday morning and was telling my friend who was from Mexico "Will we get the badges to enter UN Headquarters for WHA?" ,but fortunately when we were walking towards WHO HQs we got to know that we were able to get the delegation badges as a part of International Federation of Medical Students Associations delegation. It was a great pleasure to be in the high level opening ceremony of the 66th World Health Assembly commenced in Geneva on 20th of May 2012 at 10am. The high level panel began with electing the new president from Japan to the 66th World Health Assembly and followed by appointing vice presidents and chairmen’s of main committees.
Opening of High Level Segment
High Level Plenary
DG of WHO Speaks at WHA
In the afternoon, I attended a side event on public private partnership for addressing NCDs: food labeling and other innovative instruments for involving the private sector and making healthy choice easier. Organized by the delegation of Netherlands in collaboration with the delegations of Singapore and Canada
The speakers stressed that
- The 66th WHA is crucially important for NCDs resolutions,
- Private sectors, specially food processing industries can work on reformulation in reducing suger contents, reducing saturated fat, salt, enhancing fiber content, food labeling and promoting healthy diet.
- NCD Action plan will be intensely negotiated and finalized in this WHA.
One of the Singaporean speaker stressed that the obesity has become one of the most dietary challenge in Singapore, where obesity has risen up to 12% of Singaporean population. In 2011 Singapore implemented a strategic healthier Hawked Program in one of the hawker area which is a 3P engagement program interlinking Private, Public and People into a platform. By now they have reached 10% of hawker stalls to promote healthy food as well use healthy ingredients.
Side Event
In the late afternoon, attended the 2nd plenary meeting of WHA and opening remarks by Dr. Margret, Director General of WHO, she stressed more on newly revolving influenza viruses, post 2015 framework, HIV retrovirus therapy, vaccination - especially on polio eradication. She ended up with "Its not going to be easy to eradicate non communicable diseases".
Later on first meeting of the Committee A took place, the committee focused on agenda item 13, on communicable diseases; member states shared their opinions on the proposed draft on NCD resolution.
In the late evening IFMSA and World Medical Organization jointly organized the closing ceremony on Pre-WHA for youth followed by dinner.
first meeting of the Committee A
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