WHO nod to new health programme

In a bid to cope up better with the disease outbreaks and health emergencies, the World Health Organisation member states on Thursday agreed to develop a new health emergency programme that aims at responding quickly and effectively to emergency situations. The new programme is designed to deliver rapid, predictable, and comprehensive support to countries and communities as they prepare for, face or recover from emergencies caused by any type of hazard to human health, whether disease outbreaks, natural or man-made disasters or conflicts. During the World Health Assembly in Geneva it was decided that the WHO will provide leadership within the context of the international health regulations and health, in relation to the broader humanitarian and disaster management system. “As health cluster lead, it will draw on the respective strengths and expertise of a wide range of partners and member states,” said the WHO in its statement.

In order to fulfil these new responsibilities, the delegates agreed a budget of US$ 494 million for the Programme for 2016-2017. This is an increase of US$160 million to the existing Programme Budget for WHO’s work in emergencies.

Welcoming the the progress WHO has made in developing the new Health Emergencies Programme, the Delegates noted the the new implementation plan and timeline, and the establishment of an Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the new programme. They encouraged the ongoing collaboration with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to align the management of disease outbreaks and other biological emergencies with the mechanisms and capacities of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee.

The reforms would mean all WHO activities for emergency situations will come under a single programme, with its own staff and the new teams will have to be operational at WHO headquarters in Geneva and the six regional offices by the end of 2016.