WHO opens 65th assembly, Chan expected to continue in 2nd term
GENEVA. May 21. KAZINFORM The 65th World Health Assembly (WHA) opened here on Monday. Nearly 3,000 delegates from 194 member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) attend the annual meeting, according to Xinhua.
During the one-week session, one of the most important topics is the appointment of WHO Director-General. Current Director-General Margaret Chan was norminated for a second term by the WHO Executive Board in January and the normination will be submitted for approval by the WHA on Wednesday afternoon. She is the sole candidate for the post.
Chan was elected as director-general on Nov. 9, 2006 and her current term runs through June 2012. If approved by the assembly, Chan's new term will begin on July 1, 2012 and continue until June 30, 2017.
Other issues also on top of the agenda include the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases; monitoring of the achievement of the United Nations millennium development goals and WHO reforms.