World Health Day 2006 to be observed at PAHO April 7: PAHO, HHS Officials Focus on Human Resources for Health
Washington, D.C., April 6, 2006 (PAHO)—World Health Day is being observed tomorrow, April 7, with the release of a new comprehensive study of the global health workforce, The World Health Report 2006, which points to a severe shortage of health workers in 57 countries.
In Washington, the observance kicks off at the Pan American Health Organization at 9 a.m. April 7 with representatives from the U.S., Brazil and Canada discussing current human resources for health situations in each of their countries.
The launching of World Health Day starts at 10:30 a.m with a welcome by PAHO Director Dr. Mirta Roses, and remarks by Dr. John Agwunobi, Assistant Secretary for Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Linda Janet Holmes of the New Jersey Department of Health will speak on midwives as pillars of community support, and Dr. Pedro Brito, manager of Health Systems Strengthening at PAHO, will welcome participants and present a call to action.
For much more information on World Health Day 2006, please visit PAHO's Special WHD 2006 Page
Award winning health teams and everyday heroes in health from the U.S. and the Americas are being recognized, a lunch for participants is offered in the PAHO lobby, and then participants are invited to a health fair at George Washington University’s Ross Hall courtyard.
The report noted that this shortage is impairing provision of essential, life-saving interventions such as childhood immunization, safe pregnancy and delivery services for mothers, and access to treatment for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. More than four million additional doctors, nurses, midwives, managers and public health workers are urgently needed to fill the gap in these countries, 36 of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. This shortage, combined with a lack of training and knowledge, is also a major obstacle for health systems as they attempt to effectively respond to chronic diseases, avian influenza and other health challenges, the Report finds.
World Health Day aims to draw the world's attention to the urgency of this crisis, while recognizing the dedication and achievements of health workers everywhere, and WHO Regional Offices and local partners will celebrate World Health Day 2006 in activities around the globe.
World Health Day Media Contacts
Washington: Daniel Epstein, PAHO Public Information (202) 974 3459, epsteind@paho.org
Lusaka: Xu Baert, World Health Day Coordinator, +41 79 286 0817, email: baertx@who.int
London: Darlene Taylor, +41 22 791 2153 or email: taylorda@who.int
Geneva: Ben Fouquet, +41 22 791 3554 or email fouquetp@who.int., or Iain Simpson, +41 22 791 3215 or email simpsoni@who.int.
For information related to the World Health Report, please contact:
Thomson Prentice, Editor, WHO, Geneva, +41 22 791 4224 or email at prenticet@who.int
Judith Mandelbaum-Schmid, Communications Officer, WHO, +41 22 791 2967 schmidj@who.int
For more information on World Health Day please visit PAHO's Special WHD2006 Page, or go to www.who.int/world-health-day/2005/en
For more information please contact , PAHO, Public Information, 202-974-3459.