The 66th meeting of the World Health Assembly adopted 24 resolutions and five decisions, including on health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and health in the post-2015 development agenda.
The Assembly is the governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO).
28 May, 2013: The 66th meeting of the World Health Assembly adopted 24 resolutions and five decisions, including on health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and health in the post-2015 development agenda. The Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO).
With regard to progress towards achieving health-related MDGs, delegates noted progress in reducing child and maternal mortality, improving nutrition, and reducing morbidity and mortality due to HIV infection, tuberculosis and malaria. They adopted a resolution urging States to accelerate efforts towards achieving health-related MDGs, and ensure that health is central in the post-2015 development agenda. Delegates also noted a report on the process for integrating health in the post-2015 development agenda, and outcomes of thematic consultations on this topic held from October 2012 to March 2013.
On social determinants of health, the Assembly noted the need to support Member States in implementing the Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health, and supported integrating social determinants of health perspectives into relevant forthcoming UN and other high-level meetings. Delegates also supported considering the WHO Action Plan on Universal Health Coverage into the post-2015 development agenda.
The Assembly also adopted a resolution on drinking water, sanitation and health, in which delegates: recognize WHO’s role regarding the development and monitoring of water and sanitation norms and targets, as well as the integration of water and sanitation into other health interventions; underline the urgent need to take action to achieve the MDG 7 target on sanitation in order to reduce in diarrhoeal diseases, including cholera; and strongly support the UN Deputy Secretary-General’s call to action on sanitation.
The 66th meeting of the World Health Assembly took place from 20-28 May 2013, in Geneva, Switzerland. [WHO Press Release] [Publication: Monitoring the achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals: Report by the Secretariat] [Publication: Health in the post-2015 development agenda: Report by the Secretariat]