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Roundup: WHO launches program to deliver rapid, comprehensive support during health emergencies

Xinhua, May 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday announced the creation of a new Health Emergencies Programme which adds operational capabilities for disease outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies.

"The program 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," Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing here.

WHO member states agreed a budget of 494 million U.S. dollars for the program for 2016-2017, he said, adding that this is an increase of 160 million dollars to the existing program budget for WHO's work in emergencies.

With 130 million people in need of humanitarian assistance worldwide and health emergencies at an all-time high, WHO is "encouraged by our member states' agreement to our new Health Emergencies Programme," said Margaret Chan, the WHO director-general.

"This is an important step towards WHO becoming a truly operational agency -- as requested by our member states -- to complement our technical and normative role," she said.

The World Health Assembly, which meets every May, is attended by delegations from all WHO member states.

As the UN agency's decision-making body, its main functions are to determine the policies of the health agency, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed program budget.

WHO noted that member states including Australia, Germany, Japan and Sweden, stepped forward with financial support for the new program. The Government of Japan committed 50 million dollars to support WHO's emergencies work.

The funds from Japan will include 20 million dollars for 2016 and 10 million dollars for each of the following three years. The 50 million dollars is in addition to Japan's recent contribution of 18.6 million dollars for WHO's work in emergencies for 2016.

WHO is already working with partners to support countries in several emergency settings with its new approach, including the global response to the Zika virus, as well as the response to the yellow fever outbreak in Angola and the health consequences of drought in Ethiopia.

Under the new program, 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.

An Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the new program was also established. At the World Health Assembly, member states requested the head of WHO to report to next year's session on progress made in establishing and operationalizing the program. Endit