Events

MINSK, 20 May (BelTA) – A Belarusian delegation led by Healthcare Minister Vasily Zharko is taking part in the 67^th session of the World Health Assembly (the decision-making body of the World Health Organization) in Geneva, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Healthcare Ministry of Belarus.

Speaking at the plenary session Vasily Zharko drew attention to the impact of climate on human health and urged to toughen control over communicable diseases and step up efforts to prevent the development of non-communicable diseases. The head of the Belarusian delegation informed the international community about measures taken in Belarus to improve the demographic situation and reduce consumption of alcohol and tobacco products.

Vasily Zharko met with WHO Director General Margaret Chan, WHO Regional Director for Europe Zsuzsanna Jakab, healthcare ministers of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and the head of the Polish delegation. They discussed cooperation prospects, supplies of Belarusian medicines, and the European Ministerial Conference on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases that will be held in Minsk in 2015.

During the talks with the healthcare minister of Afghanistan, an inter-ministry cooperation agreement was signed with a view to promoting cooperation in healthcare, education, medical science and provision of healthcare assistance to Afghan nationals in Belarus.

Taking part in the assembly are over 3,000 delegates who are discussing topical healthcare issues, including prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases and TB, healthcare provision for newborns, improvement of the availability of basic medicines, as well as the WHO Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding.