Luanda 17 November 2012  - Health Ministers and heads of delegations from 46 countries in the WHO African Region have begun arriving in Luanda to attend the 62nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa. The meeting takes place from 19-23 November 2012.

The five-day event will also bring together senior officials of the Organization and Representatives of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes, civil society, bilateral,  multilateral organizations, and other development partners.

Speaking to the media at a news conference in Luanda, organized by the Ministry of Health and WHO, Dr Sambo thanked the Government of Angola for hosting the meeting in Luanda. He highlighted some of the issues to be discussed at the meeting including health and human rights,  health promotion, HIV/AIDS, disaster risk management and others.

He underscored the importance of evidence to inform policy and decison making and said this was of vital importance in strengthening health systems. He also mentioned that health inequalities within and among countries are also an issue that will be discussed.

The Minister of Health Dr Van Dunem welcomed the all the delegates to Angola and reaffirmed the Angolan government's commitment in strengthening its national health system and health development in general.

A report on the work of WHO highlighting the successes and challenges faced by the Organization in its health development efforts will also be presented to the delegates by the Regional Director.

The WHO Regional Committee, is one of  the Organization's governing bodies  that reviews it's work in the Region and gives directions on what needs to be done by countries to improve the health of people
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For more information, please contact:
Communication, Advocacy and Media Unit: cam [at] afro.who.int (cam[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int)  Tel: (+244)  943801810