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Influenza Pandemic and chronic non-communicable diseases are major causes for concern
The world has moved closer to an Influenza pandemic than at any time since 1968. It is estimated that the next influenza pandemic will result in million deaths worldwide, and between 150-750 thousands deaths in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This was discussed by Member States at the 53rd Session of the Regional Committee(RC) for the Eastern Mediterranean currently convened in Isfahan, the Islamic Republic of Iran. A presentation on the Regional Strategy on preparedness and response for human influenza pandemic showed that the world is currently in phase 3 of the six-phase alert system in which a new influenza virus subtype was causing death in humans but fortunately not yet spreading efficiently.
Discussions followed the presentation showed that Egypt was the most affected Member State in the Region with 14 human cases of whom 6 had died.
Transparency, political commitment, capacity and laboratory building, hygiene, avoiding crowds and reaching the public through media and communication are key elements in facing the pandemic.
During the RC, a report was launched on chronic and non communicable diseases warning that these diseases are major causes of death and disability worldwide and account for 52% of all deaths in the Region. The highlighted diseases are: cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, malaria, respiratory diseases and tuberculosis. For example, deaths from Diabetes are projected to increase by 50% in the next 10 years.
The deteriorating health situation in the occupied Palestinian territories was highlighted. It was described as a chronic and acute humanitarian crisis caused by 5 years of restricted movements, insecurity, conflicts and the gap in provision of financing especially in the public sector.
The presentation outlined two key areas of support; providing sustainable funding to the Ministry of Health in Palestinian territories, and documenting the violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.
The health situation in Lebanon was also focused upon in the aftermath of the recent war against Lebanon. The timely humanitarian aid and relief efforts exerted by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health and supported by Member States, WHO and partners in harmonized method were hailed during the RC. However it expressed growing concern over the size of damage affecting the health infrastructure and the unexploded ordnance and land mines scattered throughout and causing at least one death and 3 injured per day. The health situation in Lebanon was also addressed by Dr Andres Nordstrom, Acting Director General oh the World Health Organization who noted that the health system in the south has been severely weakened and expressed the necessity to focus on sustainable health services there. The RC emphasized the need to support recovery efforts in Lebanon and investment in disaster preparedness capacity at the national level.
Further more during the RC, Dr Nordstrom congratulated Eastern Mediterranean Region on the success of the Regional Strategy for Malaria. In all 9 endemic countries, the malaria burden has decreased, and malaria elimination in Egypt, Morocco, Oman and Arab Republic of Syria was potentially sustainable.
Reviewing the annual report on the work of the WHO for the year 2005, Dr Gezairy said that at least 70% of emerging diseases were zoonotic in origin and that veterinary public health was a major issue and one that has to be very clearly addressed in this Region.
Dr Gezairy mentioned that the Region continued to make steady progress in achieving global and Regional targets in disease control. Good progress had been achieved in Directly Observed Treatment, short course(DOTS) population coverage for Tuberculosis and treatment success rates were high with the regional rate at 82%. However detecting cases still as low as 38%.He said that there had been an over all increase in immunization coverage last year.” That no child should die from a vaccine-preventable disease in the Region was a joint vision”
Turning to polio, he said that the top priority for the Regional polio programme was to interrupt virus transmission in the two remaining endemic countries of the Region “It is equally important to keep the polio-free status in the countries that had been declared free” he added.
The public health problems of alcohol consumption in the Region were also reviewed by Member States. 2 billion people worldwide consumed alcohol of whom 76 millions suffer from alcohol consumption disorders. Though alcohol consumption is not among the first 15 causes of losing years in the Region, the presentation warned that it is becoming a rising trend especially among young people and a potential threat to health.
During the first three days of the Regional Committee other issues were also reviewed such as the medium term strategic plan 2008-2013 and the programme budget of the coming biennium and the experience of the Islamic Republic of Iran in integrating medical education and health services.
The 53rd session of the Regional Committee will close tomorrow with declaring the recommendations and resolutions taken by Member States.
Condemn Israeli aggression and violation of international law
The 53rd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for The Eastern Mediterranean concluded here in Isfahan today with a strong condemnation of Israel for its continued and recent aggression against Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territory and for its repeated violation of international law, including the illegal use of cluster bombs, and international humanitarian law. The Committee further condemned Israel for not upholding its responsibility as an occupying force to ensure provision of health services to the people of the occupied territories. It requested the WHO Director-General and the Regional Director for The Eastern Mediterranean to submit a fact-finding report on the health consequences of the recent Israeli aggression in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territory.
With regard to preparedness and response for human pandemic Influenza, the committee recognized the significance and impact of the current outbreaks of avian influenza, and the potential gravity of the anticipated human pandemic influenza. It also recognized; that implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) is a significant step towards protection of the international community against the potentially devastating consequences of pandemic influenza. The committee endorsed the WHO Eastern Mediterranean strategic plan for avian influenza and human pandemic influenza.
The Regional Committee deliberated on several issues of importance to the Member States and adopted resolutions on subjects of regional priority, including the following.
The Regional Committee expressed Concern at the growing number of reports from Member States referring to alarming signs of a hidden epidemic in pockets of the young population in the Region with regard to hazardous consumption of alcohol. It urged Member States to conduct appropriate research including case studies to determine the magnitude, pattern and trend of alcohol consumption in the Region, and the impact for specific disease conditions and population groups.
The Regional Director was requested to support Member States in the design of research projects and case studies to be used as the basis for development of national health policies, strategies and plans for prevention and control of alcohol consumption and management of its health consequences.
The Regional Committee expressed concern at the knowledge gap and the lack of ability to translate knowledge into action. Nevertheless it recognized the efforts of some Member States in developing strategies and policies for some aspects of knowledge management. The Committee endorsed the regional strategy for knowledge management to support public health, and urged Member States to conduct a situation analysis of information and knowledge management institutions, including publishers, libraries, information centres, information networks, health on the internet, information
technology centers and media centres; The Regional Director was requested by the committee to promote and catalyze public-private partnerships in support of e-health activities in the Region and to provide technical support to Member States to formulate their national policies, strategies and plans for knowledge management and sharing, knowledge generation, use of Information and Communication Technology for health, human resources, and knowledge translation;
With regard to medical devices and equipment in contemporary health care systems and services, the Regional Committee expressed concern at the number of regional problems related to selection, procurement and management of medical devices, at a time when the regional market for medical equipment is growing. It urged Member States to collect and/or update information on medical devices and the processes for technology assessment, selection and management. The Regional Committee requested the Regional Director to establish a task force on assessment, selection and management of medical devices with a view to developing a regional strategy. It also requested him to develop guidelines on assessment, selection and use of medical devices, and to promote norms and standards focusing on quality and cost effectiveness.
The Regional Committee acknowledged the importance of the role played by governments in health development, the significant changes (and challenges facing) the role of government in general and health development in particular and the growing concern over equity in access to quality health care, increasing vulnerability and limited coverage by social protection. The Committee urged Member States to protect the role of government in service delivery in order to secure access for the poor, vulnerable groups and rural and remote populations and to pay particular interest to improving working conditions for professionals working full time in government facilities.
International Organizations advocate to respond to HIV transmission
Injecting drug is one of the main modes of HIV transmission. Over the past few years, increased HIV prevalence among injecting drug users was documented in a number of countries of the region of Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa.
Latest estimates show an accelerated increase in HIV infections in the region. Approximately,100.000 people become infected in 2005 only. The total number of people living with HIV/AIDS is estimated 620,000 people.
Although the main mode of HIV transmission in the Region is unprotected sexual contact, injecting drug use is becoming an increasingly important factor, it is the predominant mode of infection in at least two countries namely Islamic Republic of Iran and Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. Islamic Republic of Iran has responded with a pioneering experience in the field of reducing the risks of HIV prevalence among injecting drug users particularly in prisons. Substitution therapy, syringe distribution and HIV counseling, testing and treatment were offered to the prisoners to prevent the spread of HIV.
Harm reduction concept means taking the necessary interventions that can help in achieving better chances for HIV prevention among drug users, and avoiding unsafe practices that make them more vulnerable to be infected with the virus and infect others.
Based on these facts, the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and UNAIDS Regional support team are organizing a regional workshop on drug use and HIV entitled “ towards implementation of comprehensive HIV and AIDS Response among drug users in the Region”.
This workshop is a collaborative activity held within the framework of :
• The Fourth Regional Working Group on Drug Use and HIV in MENA, convened by the UNODC Cairo Regional Office.
• Strengthening Civil Society Organization on Harm Reduction in the MENA Project, supported by WHO and the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA)
Participants to the workshop are experts representing the concerned International Organizations and representatives of 15 countries. The workshop aims at:
• Increase commitment and agree on next steps for developing and implementing a comprehensive response to drug use and HIV, including outreach activities, as part of the National Strategic Plans on AIDS.
• Build capacities to effectively utilize emerging data from assessments on drug use and AIDS towards adapted programming in countries.
• Identify capacity-building needs to secure sustainable implementation of drug use and HIV programmes, including harm reduction measures
• Explore and reach consensus on the establishment of a regional network on harm reduction in MENA.
Sessions will be allocated for subjects such as reaching out to drug users with HIV prevention services: “Moving ahead from information to programmes and implementation”, and “cooperation with civil society in the field of harm reduction.” During the workshop, a new project on harm reduction, supported by WHO and the International Harm Reduction Association will be launched.
For more information, please contact : Media and Communication Unit
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