Health in Islamic states: ministers meet to plan the next 10 years

Copenhagen, 29 September 2011

An ambitious ten-year action plan on health is on the table of the Islamic Conference of Health Ministers, which is meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan on 29 September – 1 October 2011. The Conference aims to improve and strengthen solidarity among Member States and cooperation among Islamic countries in the field of health care.

“This is a very important meeting of minds,” observed Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “At the heart of the agenda is a vision of health that will not only guide the development of health systems in countries but also address the key measures needed to prevent disease and ill health: the social and economic determinants that make all the difference. This is an approach that, the evidence shows, makes most effective use of resources. It works.”

As well as the draft strategic programme of health action for 2012–2022, the delegates will discuss progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals for reducing child mortality and improving maternal health; the Global Polio Eradication Initiative; the sustainable production of drugs, including vaccines; and the control of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

The Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan is hosting the Conference, with over 400 delegates, including representatives of 56 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and international organizations, expected to attend. Kazakhstan currently chairs the OIC. The delegates are expected to adopt a declaration and resolutions to strengthen cooperation among OIC member states on providing health care.

Agreement with Kazakhstan

WHO/Europe and the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan are expected to sign a biennial collaborative agreement to support health development in Kazakhstan for the next two years. The priorities identified include: the European health policy (Health 2020); health-system strengthening and public health; noncommunicable diseases, health promotion and healthy lifestyles; communicable diseases, health security and environment; and health information, evidence, research and innovation.

For more information, please contact:

Liuba Negru
Communications Officer, WHO/Europe
Tel.: +45 39 17 13 44, +45 20 45 92 74 (mobile)
E-mail: LNE@euro.who.int

Melita Vujnovic
Head of Country Office, Kazakhstan
Tel: +7 7172 592550, +7 7777 850 778
Fax: +7 7172 592540
E-mail: mev@euro.who.int