Some highlights of the 57th World Health Assembly

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Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health

fruit and vegetablesThe adoption of a global strategy on diet, physical activity and health was one of the highlights of this year’s World Health Assembly. The strategy addresses two of the major risk factors responsible for the heavy and growing burden of noncommunicable disease, emphasizing the need to limit the intake of certain fats, sugars and salt, and increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, and levels of physical activity.
WHA57.17 [pdf 94kb] | Press release | Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health

Reproductive health

Antenatal careReproductive and sexual ill-health accounts for 20% of the global burden of ill-health for women, and 14% for men. Demonstrating a unified commitment to improve this situation, the World Health Assembly adopted WHO's first global strategy on reproductive health. The strategy targets five priority areas including antenatal care, family planning, and sexually transmitted infections.
WHA57.12 [pdf 16kb] | Press release | Reproductive health


Photo: WHO/Eric MillerThe World Health Assembly welcomed the Director-General's "3 by 5" strategy to support developing countries in their response to HIV/AIDS, by increasing access to prevention, care and treatment and securing access to antiretroviral treatment for three million people living with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2005. The Health Assembly also urged the Director-General to improve the access of developing countries to antiretroviral medicines and other products used in the diagnosis, treatment and care of HIV/AIDS. Photo: WHO/Eric Miller
WHA57.14 [pdf 24kb] | HIV/AIDS | 3 by 5

Road safety

Busy roadAnother highlight of this year's World Health Assembly was the unanimous adoption of a resolution on road safety and health. The resolution, the first on this topic to be adopted by the body since 1974, seeks to address the lack of safety on the world's roads, responsible for 1.2 million deaths and as many as 50 million injuries annually. The resolution follows the widely celebrated World Health Day 2004, dedicated to road safety.
WHA57.10 [pdf 20kb] | World Health Day 2004: road safety

Surveillance and control of Buruli ulcer

Buruli ulcerMycobacterium ulcerans disease, or Buruli ulcer, is a poorly understood disease that affects the skin, causing deforming ulcers that can lead to serious disabilities. By adopting a resolution on increasing surveillance and control of Buruli ulcer, the World Health Assembly called for intensified research to develop tools to diagnose, treat and prevent the disease.
WHA57.1 [pdf 16kb] | Buruli ulcer | Buruli ulcer fact sheet

Eradication of guinea-worm disease

DracunculiasisDracunculiasis, or guinea-worm disease, is a painful and disabling parasitic disease found in poor, rural communities lacking access to safe water. The number of cases has decreased dramatically over the last two decades. In a bid to finally eradicate guinea-worm disease, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution urging endemic countries to intensify eradication efforts, and calling on the global community to continue its cooperation and commitment for these efforts. Photo: A.Poyo
WHA57.9 [pdf 12kb] | Dracunculiasis

Mental health

Jimmy and Rosalynn CarterIn his speech to the World Health Assembly, Mr Jimmy Carter, former President of the United States of America, stressed the importance of access to treatment for people with mental illnesses. The message was reinforced during a technical briefing on mental health and substance abuse by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who urged ministers and delegates to implement an earlier resolution (WHA55.10) aimed at improving people's mental health.
Speech | WHA55.10 [pdf 83kb] | Mental health