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S. African president Zuma to co-chair UN high-level commission

Xinhua, February 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

South African President Jacob Zuma has been appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to co-chair a High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth with French President François Hollande, the Presidency said on Monday.

The commission is designed to stimulate the creation of new employment opportunities in the health sector across all countries, especially in least developed countries.

"I would like to commend the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, for establishing the High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Development, and I am humbled by his invitation for me to serve as co-chair of this commission with President François Hollande of France," Zuma said.

The focus of this commission goes to the heart of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in September last year, with the aim of addressing the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality, said Zuma.

Growing health workforce shortages is a particular challenge for all developing countries, including South Africa, Zuma said.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 45 million job opportunities will be created in the health sector by 2030 due to a number of factors, including population growth and an ageing health workforce. However, these jobs will mostly be created in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and emerging economies, and it will result in a shortage of 18 million qualified health professionals that are needed in low-and middle-income countries.

This mismatch poses a threat to the stability of health systems and global health security.

The commission will therefore consider, in particular, the considerable need for health professionals in middle and low-income countries, according to Zuma.

It is further expected that this initiative by the UN will not only increase health security world-wide, but also promote inclusive economic growth, and in doing so, help to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said.

Two preparatory meetings involving experts are expected to take place in the run-up to the formal launch of the commission in Lyon, France, on March 23, 2016. A second meeting of the commission is expected to take place in New York in September this year on the margins of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly.

The commission is expected to submit its report to the UN Secretary-General, at the latest, by December 31, 2016. Endit