Minister Ambrose to Take Part in World Health Assembly in Geneva

Bringing Canada's perspective to global health challenges like maternal and child health

OTTAWA, May 16, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, will be in Geneva next week to participate in the 67^th World Health Assembly (WHA). The WHA is an opportunity for World Health Organization Member States to discuss proposals to address global health challenges, review progress and share information.

Minister Ambrose will deliver a statement to the plenary on Monday, May 19, in which she will highlight Canada's developmental priorities, particularly maternal and child health.

Canada will also co-sponsor a number of resolutions at the WHA, including a proposal for a global plan of action that aims to strengthen the role of the health sector in addressing violence, particularly against women and children. Another resolution that Canada is co-sponsoring calls for a global action plan on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) — a growing public health concern because it puts individuals at risk of treatment failure and can lead to the spread of infection.

While in Geneva, Minister Ambrose will also take the opportunity to meet with her international counterparts to discuss health issues and opportunities for working together in the future. Meetings will include:

• Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General, WHO, to discuss Canada's interest in violence prevention and priorities related to global health, including AMR;
• Minister Ambrose will be a panelist at an event on Dementia, hosted by the United Kingdom;
• Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Mercedes Juan, Secretary of Health, Mexico, to discuss mutual health interests such as addressing family violence, non-communicable diseases, mental health, healthy living, and global health security;
• Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, United Kingdom, to discuss AMR and violence prevention; and
• Secretary Hunt, UK Secretary of State for Health, to discuss continued collaboration on dementia.
• The Minister will promote Saving Every Woman Every Child: Within Arm's Reach, an international Summit in Toronto, May 28-30, 2014, that will shape the future of child and maternal health collaborations in Canada and around the world.

Quick Facts

• The 67^th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) takes place in Geneva, May19-24, 2014.
  
  
• The World Health Assembly is the main governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO), representing over 194 countries. Canada has been a member of the WHO since its inception in 1948.
  
  
• Canada is a world leader in promoting women and children's health in developing countries and in reducing the unacceptable mortality rates that these vulnerable populations face.
  
  
• The Harper Government is focusing its efforts on a national research and prevention plan for dementia which is key to improving the standards of care and reducing the burden on families.
  

Quotes

"I look forward to working with my colleagues from the World Health Organization and its Member States at the World Health Assembly to explore how we can adapt and respond to global health challenges.  These health challenges are shared by many countries and can be best tackled through collaborative, global and multisectoral approaches. I am particularly looking forward to advancing our work on improving maternal, newborn and child health."
The Honourable Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health

Associated Links
The World Health Organization 67th World Health Assembly
Saving Every Woman Every Child: Within Arm's Reach Summit

SOURCE: Public Health Agency of Canada

Michael Bolkenius
Office of the Minister of Health
[phone]

Media Relations
Public Health Agency of Canada
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