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In observance of Africa Health Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO), in partnership with the African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF), Africare and Medilinks, is organising an exhibition and a panel discussion on 19 February 2004 in New York highlighting health and development issues in Africa. Although Africa is the richest continent in the world, it has historically been perceived as a continent of relentless humanitarian emergencies caused by political instability, disease, famine and war. This perception fails to recognize the many positive development initiatives in Africa that have succeeded and flourished and resulted in improved health conditions for the children, women and men of Africa. Africa Health Day will aim to raise public awareness of these positive health programs in the Region and offer opportunities to further explore how to build a bridge to sustainable development.

Africa Health Day
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World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa
P.0. Box 06 ­ Brazzaville, Congo

PRESS RELEASE
PR/05/ 3 February 2004

WHO, AMREF, Africare, Medilinks plan for Africa Health Day

New York, 3 February 2004 -- In observance of Africa Health Day,
the World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the Af-
rican Medical Research Foundation (AMREF)[1], Africare[2] and
Medilinks[3], is organizing an exhibition and a panel discussion
on 19 February 2004 in New York highlighting health and develop-
ment issues in Africa.

Although Africa is the richest continent in the world, it has
historically been perceived as a continent of relentless humani-
tarian emergencies caused by political instability, disease,
famine and war. This perception fails to recognize the many
positive development initiatives in Africa that have succeeded
and flourished and resulted in improved health conditions for
the children, women and men of Africa.

Africa Health Day will aim to raise public awareness of these
positive health programs in the Region and offer opportunities
to further explore how to build a bridge to sustainable develop-
ment.

The public centerpiece of Africa Health Day is the exhibition to
be launched during a reception on 18 February in Vanderbilt Hall
at the Grand Central Terminal in New York by WHO Regional Direc-
tor for Africa, Dr Ebrahim Malick Samba. Dr Samba, who has
greatly contributed to the development of health in Africa, will
be joined by the US Ambassador to the UN Economic and Social
Council, H.E. Mr Sichan Siv, Botswana's Ambassador to the UN,HE
Mr Alfred M.Dube as well as celebrities such as actor Danny
Glover and basketball star Dikembe Mutombo to launch the exhibi-
tion.

"It is not all gloom and doom in Africa," says Dr Samba. "There
are numerous concrete examples of good programmes, success sto-
ries and best health practices in our Region . and Africa Health
Day will serve to put all these in very bold relief for all to
see. We also hope it will spur Africa's development partners in
the US to further action in favour of health development in the
African Region."

More than 50 US-based organizations including NGOs, institu-
tions, foundations and other private sector bodies will partici-
pate in the exhibition which will feature some of the wide-
ranging best practices and programmes in the areas of HIV/AIDS,
malaria, tuberculosis, child and maternal health, water and
sanitation, and poverty alleviation that are flourishing and
succeeding throughout the African continent.

Events planned for 19 February include a panel discussion on
"Collaboration with Civil Society and Private Sector to Make a
Difference in Health Development in Africa" to be hosted by WHO
at the United Nations. The panel will be moderated by H.E. Am-
bassador Martin Anjaba of Namibia. Panelists include Mr Julius
E. Coles, President, Africare; Mr Stephan Hayes,President Corpo-
rate Council for Africa, Dr Stephen Joseph, AMREF USA Board Mem-
ber; Mrs Mora McLean, President, African American Institute; Mr
Raymond V. Gilmartin, CEO, Merck and President, International
Federation of Pharmaceuticals Association and; Dr Samba. The
panel discussion will take place on 19 February 2004 in Confer-
ence Room 5 at the United Nations.

The Africa Health Day exhibition is expected to attract thou-
sands of commuters at the Grand Central Terminal, the busiest
transit hub in metropolitan New York.

--
[1] AMREF, based in Nairobi, Kenya, is a health development or-
ganization with the mission to improve the health of disadvan-
taged people in Africa as a means for them to escape poverty and
improve the quality of their life.

[2] Africare is a leading charitable U.S African American insti-
tution which specializes in assisting Africa. It is based in
Washington D.C

[3] Medilinks is a website and a source of accurate, relevant
and concise medical and health-related information on Africa. It
is aimed at doctors, healthcare professionals, policy and deci-
sion makers in health related fields and all groups of people
who have a need or interest to keep informed and up to date
about multiple areas of medicine and public health concerning
Africa.

For further information, contact:

Dr Teguest Guerma
WHO Office at the United Nations
2 UN Plaza, 9th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10017, USA
Tel. +1-212-963-4394; 963-4388
mailto:[email protected]