Despite the fact that the World Health Assmebly (WHA) was curtailed to five days, the delegates have deliberated and agreed on pressing issues in the world health agenda this year, Health and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. The cooperation and flexibility that the delegations have shown in agreeing on contentious issues is commendable.

"I am also happy to note the issue of financial crisis which was main theme of the debate in the plenary has been addressed very seriously by the member states and several innovative approaches emerged in the course of discussions", he told the closing session of the WHA which was attended by over 1000 delegates in Geneva.

The Minister said that this Health Assembly became a timely forum for in-depth deliberations on the outbreak of A-H1N1. " I am sure the technical inputs and the awareness created by these elaborate discussions will serve as catalyst for the member states and the WHO to strengthen and accelerate the preventive and curative programmes in this area. Here we will be failing in our duty if we do not appreciate the initiative, commitment and dedication demonstrated by our Director General, Dr. Margaret Chan."

The important issue of Climate Change and Health was also addressed at the relevant committee. The delegates agreed upon a draft resolution and a work plan to scale up WHO’s technical assistance to countries to assess the impact of climate change. Thereby, the delegates set up a road map for future WHO work in this area, Minister de Silva said.