Roughly 700 million people in Asia and the Pacific live on an income of less than $1 a day. They live in such extreme poverty that they often go to bed hungry. Many of the poor also lack access to basic health care – children do not get immunized against core diseases, mothers die needlessly in childbirth and people with infectious tuberculosis fail to get treatment costing as little as $15 per course. A rich-poor health divide exists. The 20% of the world's population in the poorest nations suffer half the deaths from communicable diseases.
In the year 2000, the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) were drawn up to tackle poverty and ill-health, with targets for 2015. While some countries have made considerable progress, the region overall will be challenged to meet all the goals. To accelerate progress, the Government of Japan is hosting a High-Level Forum on the Health MDG in Asia and the Pacific in Tokyo on 21-22 June, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. Those attending include ministers of finance, development and health as well as representatives from donor and United Nations agencies. This is the first ministerial forum of this kind in Asia and the Pacific.
Among the key issues for discussion are weak and inequitable health systems. It is becoming increasingly clear that significant progress will not be possible until governments strengthen health systems and increase access to services to the poor, women, rural communities and ethnic minorities. The management and mobilization of resources, as well as partnership with other non-health sectors will also be discussed. A background paper will be released at the forum.
The media are invited to the opening session of the Forum at 9:30am, 21 June, at the Mita Conference Hall. A press conference will be held on 22 June after the closing of the Forum at the Japanese Government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Representatives of the four host organizations of the Forum will attend. Details are as follows:
Event: High-Level Forum on the Health MDGs in Asia and the Pacific
Date: 17:30, 22 June
Location: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8919.
A press release and fact sheet will be issued ahead of the Forum on 20 June. For further information or to arrange interviews, please e-mail:
. Or telephone: + 632 528 9992. Journalists in Japan can contact WHO’s Dr Yojiro Sato from 20 June at: 090 4136 3650 or can contact Ms Ogawa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at: 5501 8363, extension 3733.