Ramsammy assumes presidency of 61st World Health Assembly

Source: Stabroek News, 20th May 2008

Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy assumed the presidency of the 61st World Health Assembly, when it opened at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday.

A news release from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat said that Ramsammy is the second Caricom appointee to this position in 30 years.

It said that in his inaugural address to the Assembly, Ramsammy identified an array of health challenges facing the world, among which are climate change, food production and the high cost of living, the escalating rate of NCDs, the persistence of HIV/AIDS and the staggering rates of child mortality, injuries and violence especially violence against women. He also highlighted the negative effects of migration on the human resource capabilities of health services in developing countries.