The goal of the World Health Organization (WHO) is to build a
"harmonious healthy world" in which everyone enjoys health,
happiness and security, said Dr Margaret Chan, the newly-elected
WHO chief on Saturday.??
The WHO Constitution states "harmony" is at the center of world
public health issues so "the priority of our work is to build a
harmonious healthy world," Chan told Xinhua in an exclusive
interview on Saturday.
Chan, who will take office on January 4, 2007, said harmony was
a measure of civilization and a harmonious life was closely related
to health and security.
"Health and security are two key factors for a stable and
harmonious life and a harmonious society can only come after
people's basic requirements for food and clothing have been met and
health and security problems been solved," she said.
Chan, from Hong Kong, is the first Chinese national to lead a
specialized UN agency. She said China and the WHO had forged strong
cooperative relations.
"As a large country China's public health conditions often draw
much attention from other countries," Chan said. China had been
actively cooperating with the WHO, exchanging necessary information
with it and always helping the organization facilitate its work,
she said.
On Taiwan's participation in the WHO's technical activities Chan
said the WHO would deal with the issue in accordance with a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with China. The MoU on
Taiwan health and medical experts' participation in WHO technical
activities was signed between the Chinese Ministry of Health and
the WHO Secretariat in 2005.
"Facts show that the memorandum has played a positive role,"
Chan said. Chan pledged to act within the authority given by the
World Health Assembly and the WHO Secretariat and continue to help
Taiwan experts' participation in WHO technical activities.
On the threat of an influenza pandemic Chan said the world still
required to be vigilant although the global avian influenza
position appeared to be less serious compared with last year. Many
countries had come to know more about the danger of avian influenza
and increased preventive measures and resources against it.
"All these have led to a reduction in outbreaks but a real
threat still exists and people shouldn’t treat it lightly," she
stressed.
Chan called on experts to increase research on bird flu and
urged all the WHO member countries to cooperate to find the most
effective preventative measures. She also urged governments to
report new cases quickly to the WHO and other related organizations
and retain a high level of transparency on the subject.?
"Global efforts are needed to prevent the spread of infectious
diseases as no one country can do this alone," Chan said. The WHO
would continue to provide technical assistance and guidance to
member states in this regard.
(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2006)