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India to assume Presidency of the 68th World Health Assembly

By
SenDhil
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India is set to assume the presidency of the 68th World Health Assembly to be held in Geneva starting May 18 with Health Minister JP Nadda to chair the meeting.

  • India is assuming the presidency of the WHA, the high decision making body of the World Health organisation (WHO), after a gap of 19 years.
  • When : May 18 to 27.
  • Where : Geneva
  • The Minister will host a reception for Health Ministers attending the Assembly on May 19.
  • Nadda and Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO, will jointly inaugurate a photo exhibition “Yoga for All, Yoga for Health” to mark the adoption of a resolution by the UN General Assembly declaring June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

Nadda will also participate in a number of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the WHA including,

  • Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Meeting,
  • 8th NAM Health Ministers’ Meeting and
  • BRICS Health Ministers’ meeting.

Agenda of 68th Session of the World Health Assembly :

Assembly is expected to deliberate on key issues of global interest, including

  • Anti-microbial resistance,
  • Air pollution and health,
  • Global health emergency,
  • Preparedness and surveillance,
  • Global strategy and plan of action on public health,
  • Innovation and intellectual property, and
  • Research and development in neglected tropical diseases.

About WHO Health Assembly :

  • Top decision-making body of the World Health Organisation
  • It is the world’s highest health policy setting body.
  • It is composed of health ministers from member states.
  • The members of the World Health Assembly generally meet every year in May in Geneva.
  • The main tasks of the WHA are to decide major policy questions, as well as to approve the WHO work programme and budget.
  • It elects the Director General of WHO.
  • The first assembly held in 1948.
  • The WHA has 194 member states.

About WHO :

  • Specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that is concerned with international public health.
  • Founded : 1948
  • Headquarters : Geneva
  • The WHO is responsible for the World Health Report, a leading international publication on health.
  • The head of WHO : Margaret Chan.
  • World Health Day : 7 April of every year.