World Health Assembly winds up on a sober note

Proposals at the 51st World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva Switzerland during May 11-16 1998 to switch a proportion of World Health Organization (WHO) funding especially from southeast Asia to Africa with some funds going to Eastern Europe and the former communist states were strongly opposed by developing countries. The assembly finally agreed that funding for the 28 least-developed countries would not be affected and that the reduction for any region would not exceed 3% per year over a 6-year period. The WHA president discussed the considerable work which remains to be done against disease the promotion of health universally and in reducing existing disparities between the rich and the poor. Delegates from the 191 member states earlier adopted a declaration calling for "Health for All for the 21st Century" to replace WHOs previous goal of "Health for All by the Year 2000." Giving priority to tobacco and malaria the reorganization of WHO will initially focus upon the following 4 areas: monitoring reducing and where possible eradicating communicable diseases; combatting non-communicable diseases; helping countries build sustainable health systems with focus upon women and mothers; and ensuring that the WHO will advocate for health. Judging by the applause the WHAs favorite guests were US First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Cuban President Fidel Castro. President Castro noted that only 3% of the $800 billion currently devoted worldwide annually to military expenditures would cover the cost of universal access to basic healthcare services.