China on Tuesday called on the international community to
strengthen cooperation in dealing with avian influenza and other
global health threats.
"Governments and peoples of all countries should be more closely
united, highly value international health security, and jointly
contribute to the defense against diseases," Chinese Health
Minister Gao Qiang told the ongoing 60th annual assembly of the
World Health Organization (WHO).
Addressing all 193 member states of the UN agency, Gao said the
epidemic of avian influenza is spreading and human infected cases
are increasing. Apart from pandemic influenza, human beings are
also faced with the threat of serious infectious diseases such as
HIV/AIDS, TB, Hepatitis, malaria, etc.
China hopes that "governments of all countries and the
international community can join their efforts and make greater
contributions to the control of major diseases in the world," he
said.
According to Gao, one crucial move for protecting international
health security is to implement the WHO's revised International
Health Regulations (IHR).
The regulations, which will come into force on June 15, are
considered as the world's first legally binding agreement in the
fight against public health emergencies of international concern
such as those caused by new and re-emerging diseases with
potentials of becoming an epidemic.
"It is our wish that through the implementation of the IHR and
friendly cooperation among all countries, a working mechanism will
be established globally to effectively respond to pandemic
influenza," Gao said.
Gao also stressed the WHO's guiding role in global public health
affairs, saying such a role should be brought into full play.
"We believe that WHO should play a bigger role in the
international public health fields, and governments of all
countries should be more supportive of WHO's work," he said.
Gao also called on WHO and developed countries to strengthen
support for the development of public health systems in developing
countries.
"Diseases respect no borders ... In order to safeguard global
health security, WHO and the developed countries should help
developing countries, especially African countries, to establish
and improve disease surveillance network and enhance disease
prevention and control capacity," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2007)