World Health Organization, World Health Assembly (20 May 2008)

 
1     Madame/Mr President, Director-General Dr.Chan, honorable Ministers, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of the Government of Japan, I am delighted to offer my sincere congratulations on the 60th anniversary of the foundation of WHO. Also, I would like to express my great respect to Dr. Chan for her outstanding leadership in addressing global health issues.
 
2     At the beginning of my speech, I would like to express my heartfelt sympathy for those who suffered in the recent cyclone in Myanmar and the many victims of the devastating earthquake in China.
 
3     We are facing a huge threat of pandemic influenza.
For dealing with such crossborder health issues, I would like to emphasize strengthening cooperation to reduce the geographical gaps in infectious disease protection and the public health network. And the role of the International Health Regulations 2005 (two thousand and five) is especially important. We must also advance the process of the Inter Governmental Meeting on “Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Sharing of Influenza Viruses and Access to Vaccines and Other Benefits”.
 
4     Madame/Mr President,
This year is the mid-year to 2015 (two thousand and fifteen) which is the target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, or MDGs.
 
5     I greatly respect WHO for providing able leadership in the fight against the three major infectious diseases of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria making full use of its excellent technical expertise. Having said this, however, many other issues remain to be addressed, including the health issues of mothers, babies, and children, which remain just as serious as before.


6     This year, Japan will host the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development or TICAD IV, and the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit. In the Davos Forum in January this year, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda stated that the forthcoming Summit would discuss “Development” and “Africa”, and the focus of “Development” would be placed on “Health” “Education” and “Water” with a view to human security.
 
7     Moving towards achieving the health-related MDGs, Japan believes that further efforts on individual infectious diseases control and prevention are needed. Equally important is balanced implementation of a comprehensive approach including strengthening of health systems, such as developing the human resources required for greater protection against infection; securing maternal and child health; and revitalizing research and development.
 
8 　 Japan considers that it is important to encourage ‘ownership’ in the area of health by developing countries, and we will strongly support the efforts of developing countries. The Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize, for which we received great cooperation from the WHO, will be awarded at the TICAD IV meeting being held next week. This prize will highlight two persons’ distinguished achievements in the domain of health.
 
9　　Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is essential for maintaining the life and health of people.  It has a direct positive impact on the prevention of epidemics such as waterborne diseases, tropical diseases, and improved health.  Furthermore, access to safe water will be seriously threatened by climate change, as noted by Director-General Dr Chan, and is a top priority.  Japan hopes that WHO will continue to play a leading role in taking initiatives in the field of "water and sanitation".  We are ready to work with WHO utilizing our experience, findings and technologies in order to solve those problems.
 
10    Madame/Mr President, in order that all are able to enjoy good health, Japan reaffirms that it will continue to work together with Dr Chan, WHO's Member States and other stakeholders in health to achieve this very noble and important aim.
 
Thank you.