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Thank you Mr Bajaj.
President
Chissano,
President
Mbeki,
Mr Gates,
Mr
McKinnell,
Mr Roedy,
Ladies and
Gentlemen,
The full economic cost of diseases like HIV,
Malaria, TB, childhood illnesses and noncommunicable illnesses, is now
being recognized.
The burden of HIV has been often mentioned during
the last few days. HIV prevalence rates of 10-15% - which are no
longer uncommon - can translate into a reduction in growth rate of GDP
per capita of up to 1% per year. TB, which is exacerbated by HIV,
takes an economic toll equivalent to $12 billion dollars from the
incomes of poor communities.
Africa's GDP would probably be about $100 billion
more now if malaria had been tackled 30 years ago, when effective
control measures first became available.
Last year, Heads of State and Health Ministers of
the world's developing nations talked publicly about ways in which
illness hampers their people's prospects for development.
The political commitment is evident. Heads of State
recognize that good health is essential - to fuel the engine of
development, to unleash the forces of economic development and to
permit the reduction of poverty.
We know how to reduce suffering in poor
communities.
Quite simply, if proven interventions are taken to
scale - and by that I mean to a global scale - we have in our hands a
concrete, result-oriented, and measurable way of starting to reduce
poverty.
Later this year, WHO's Commission on Macroeconomics
and Health, chaired by Jeff Sachs, will provide a road map setting out
what can be done. It is already evident that the sum total of current
government, development agency and corporate effort is no where near
enough to make a real difference over next decade. A massive increase
in finance and human resources is needed.
We expect nations that support development to
contribute to a steep increase in levels of resources for better
health of poor people. The G8 and European Commission have already
made commitments. Several billion dollars of additional funding are
under discussion.
WHO is identifying the best technical strategies to
tackle the diseases that cause poverty. We are helping ensure that
effective channels get funds and services to those who need them. We
monitor progress and assess the results.
We are working with companies and foundations - to
develop new treatments, vaccines and preventive measures.
We encourage approaches to health action that
involve all sections of society. People themselves, joined by public
and private partners who promote best public health practice with new
energy, commitment and enthusiasm.
Chairman,
We have heard, during this forum, that being global
calls for a focus on local realities. Companies with a global reach
are concerned with the health of their workforces, of the communities
with whom they work, and of those with whom they interact throughout
the world.
Some companies have given higher priority to
people's health, working within the context of global initiatives.
They contribute to polio eradication through the Rotary Movement; to
the elimination of leprosy through the Novartis and Sasakawa
Foundations and to the control of river blindness through the Mectizan
programme.
They contribute to childhood immunization, under
the umbrella of a Global Alliance launched at the World Economic Forum
in January 2000 with the critical backing of the Gates and Rockefeller
Foundations.
By joining partnerships - like Roll Back Malaria,
GAVI and Stop TB - companies support the adoption of tried and tested
strategies in communities affected by illness. They implement what
works and focus on results. Take the example of ENI, working with
government and civil society in Azerbaijan, helping people to reduce
the risk of malaria infection and increasing their access to effective
treatment. ENI is now looking for similar opportunities to contribute
to rolling back malaria elsewhere.
Many companies have now joined the movements to
reduce the risk of HIV infection and to enable people living with HIV
and AIDS to access care. The companies that have established the
Global Business Council on HIV-AIDS have set a powerful example,
encouraging individual action, collective advocacy and the sharing of
best practice. Some companies have come together with the UN in a
well-publicised effort to help improve people's access to HIV care in
poor countries. The publicity has not reflected the complexity of the
task or the results achieved. Within the space of nine months there we
see promising progress in three countries, and good prospects in more
than 20.
Much more could be done, if companies commit
themselves to global health, work together, using best
practices, to promote better health for all and help find ways to
bridge the resource gap.
Perhaps this is the time for the Forum to make a
greater contribution. Companies could make a greater contribution to
improving the health of the world's poorest people. A WEF initiative
could lead to the scaling up effective action. It would do this by
providing an umbrella, and by building on the many actions currently
under way.
It could certainly provide an excellent opportunity
for sharing good corporate practice.
It could also inspire a wider corporate involvement
in public policy.
I would like to see WHO support the establishment
of such an initiative.
Colleagues,
The world has set major goals for equity in health.
They can be fulfilled, and the result will be significant reductions
in levels of poverty. To do this we need sustained partnerships
between the public and private sectors, based on shared values and
strategies. We need to work under the stewardship of national
governments, with the full involvement of academic groups and civil
society.
This is a tall order, but one to which the members
of the forum are well able to respond. The benefit will be
extraordinary - not only for the poor half of the our world, but for
all of us, and for all the generations to come.
Thank you. |
