EHA/HAC Global Steering Group Meeting, WHO/SEARO, New Delhi, India, 30-31 March

Opening Remarks by Dr Samlee Plianbangchang Regional Director, WHO/SEARO at The EHA/HAC Global Steering Group Meeting WHO/SEARO, New Delhi, India 30-31 March 2005 EHA/HAC Global Steering Group Meeting WHO/SEARO, 30-31 March 2005 Opening Remarks by Dr Samlee Plianbangchang Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region Representative of the Director-General for Health Action in Crises, Dr David Nabarro; Deputy Regional Director, Dr Poonam Singh; Our Regional Advisers for Emergency and Humanitarian Action; Colleagues; Ladies and Gentlemen; • I welcome members of the Global Steering Group and other guests to the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia. • This is the Steering Group for WHO’s Emergency Health Action and Health Action in Crises. • This area of work has always been critically important to WHO’s mission during an emergency, either natural or man-made. 2 • As we know, through their organized efforts, EHA and HAC had helped to mobilize global resources for effective relief operations during the Tsunami crisis. • The Tsunami of 26 December 2004 has been the biggest emergency WHO has ever dealt with. • More than anything else, the Tsunami crisis revealed the strengths and weaknesses of WHO in dealing with a disaster of this magnitude. • Our experience has clearly shown us in which areas we can deliver our services efficiently, and what are our shortcomings. • Let me mention some of our strengths: � It was demonstrated that WHO could be effective in its operations during emergencies. � We could successfully set-up operational platforms in a very short timeframe, that, just a few years ago might not have been possible. � WHO’s work with other agencies was really remarkable, to say the least. � It was through proactive actions in crises that we fulfilled our role as the health arm of the UN system. 3 � With a well organized response, we were able to better assist the Governments of affected countries. • Clearly, WHO has very good people and really competent experts, but our systems for preparedness are yet to be fully in place and efficiently functional. • If we want to respond efficiently and effectively, we have to be really well prepared. • Preparedness is an area that we need to address in a systematic manner. • We have to be clear that: � There are urgent needs for preparedness on the part of our WHO country offices. � Inter-country and inter-regional networks for mobilizing human and other resources are existing. � However, these networks still need further strengthening. • As an Organization, we have to be realistic and practical in dealing with emergencies: � We have to be prepared to respond rapidly. 4 � We have to be able to coordinate effectively, both internally and externally. � We have to ensure that the EHA/HAC programme is institutionalized within the national systems. • The Three-Year Plan of the Health Action in Crises, I believe, is addressing several concerns, such as: � Clarity and consistency in our concepts and operational definitions of preparedness for WHO Country Offices. � Pre-arrangements with national governments, UN Agencies, and other International Organizations in activities related to preparedness, response, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. � Internally, within WHO, clear lines of communication and authority to be understood by all concerned. • All these issues can be summarized in Standard Operating Procedures and we need to have adequate capacity to fully implement them. 5 • If we achieve the objectives of the Three-Year Plan, we can effectively address what Member States request from us. • In the South-East Asia Region, we are trying to put together in the Three Year Plan these elements as mentioned. • It is clear that we have to double our efforts to intensify our work in EHA/HAC to enable us to face multiple hazards and risks. • WHO has gone through many emergency operations. • Each time, we learn lessons to improve. • However, we have to learn more in order to gain a better balance for our work on the platform, which is full of emotion, competition and diverse interests of various stakeholders. • Being the technical agency in health in the UN system, we have a strong comparative advantage, that can lead us a long way towards achieving such a balance. • What we have to always ensure is our technical competence and credibility, and our ability to move fast logistically and managerially. 6 • This needs, among other things, well coordinated and integrated efforts within the Organization. • The emergency operations during the Tsunami crisis proved that there was an unprecedented solidarity and cooperation in WHO. • Let us try to ensure that this level of solidarity and cooperation continues and is further strengthened. • Finally, I wish the meeting successful deliberations and fruitful conclusions. Q:\RD-OFFICE\Speeches\2005\ Global Strg Grp Mtg, 30- 31 Mar 05, WHO- SEARO.DOC – 31 Mar 05 / 1 2.00 p.m.