News
[Jun. 18, 2009]
Meeting with Dr. Chan
On May 21, Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa, in his role as World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, met with WHO officials to discuss such topics as the direction or the leprosy elimination program. Present at the meeting were such WHO luminaries as Director General Dr. Margret Chan, Dr Mirta Roses (Regional Director for the Americas) and Dr Samlee Plianbangchang (Regional Director for Southeast Asia).
In the course of the conversation, while Dr. Chan praised Mr. Sasakawa for his energy, she at the same time cautioned that this final phase of elimination is the most important, and that even more effort, resources and political commitment will be required than before.
In 1991, the WHO set an elimination objective of one person per 10,000, and today, the only three countries yet to achieve this goal are Brazil, Nepal and East Timor.
At the meeting, the health ministers and ambassadors of Brazil and Nepal were also present. Regional Director Roses said of Brazil, “we are focusing on reducing the prevalence rate of children under 15, and are thus taking a different approach there than in other countries. However, I must stress that we are not uncommitted to elimination in Brazil. We are currently planning a survey to discover the reasons that Brazil has not yet achieved elimination.“
From May 18 to 22, the WHO held its annual World Health Assembly, at which the health ministers of member nations were present. Following the assembly, Goodwill Ambassador Sasakawa met with health ministers and related personnel from Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Mozambique and Zambia, appealing to them on behalf of the leprosy elimination campaign and the human rights of people affected by the disease.
Dr. Al Jowder receiving the health prize
Also included in the curriculum of events was a ceremony for the Health for All Prize, which this year was given to Dr. Dr Amal Abdurrahman Al Jowder of the Bahrain Ministry of Health. Dr. Al Jowder received the prize for work in bringing health news to her nation through the media and school education.
Regarding Dr. Al Jowder’s selection, Chairman Sasakawa said, “First, she attaches great importance to seeing that people receive proper health information. She has worked hard to see that this information is broadcast via TV and radio. Spreading knowledge about health is vital for disease prevention and early diagnosis. For this, the cooperation of the media is essential…. The second reason for which Dr. Al Jowder is to be commended is for the way she has fostered links with other ministries and other sectors. She doesn’t confine herself to the health ministry, but cooperates with other health experts, municipalities, regional centers and schools to promote primary healthcare.
“This is what it takes to see that social change reaches every part of the community. Beginning with the media, there needs to be cooperation with every sector of society, including NGOs, schools and businesses.
“My congratulations to Dr. Al Jowder, and may her work go from strength to strength.”
Since the award’s establishment in 1984, it has honored the efforts of 43 individuals and organizations.