Officials discuss health and sustainable development

Health ministers and officials are attending an international meeting in Johannesburg to discuss the issue of health and sustainable development, in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable development (WSSD) which is to be held in South Africa in August. "The delegates believe health is central to this process (of sustainable development), in that it contributes to economic, social and environmental development and that the inclusion of health in a multi-sectoral approach to sustainable development is crucial to its success," a statement from the UN's World Health Organisation (WHO) said. Addressing delegates on Monday at the official opening of the meeting, Dr Andrew Cassels, WHO's Director of Health and Development, stressed the importance of the meeting in providing an opportunity to shape the agenda of the WSSD. "We need to put health higher on the international political and development agenda. We need to be realistic about the resources required and we need new ways of working. Investment in people's health has a major payoff in terms of environmental, social and economic development," Cassels noted. Findings from WHO's recent Commission for Macroeconomics and Health show that economic losses resulting from ill-health have been under-estimated in the past. The commission estimated that spending an additional US $66 billion on health care could see countries saving an estimated US $360 billion. "Our goal is to help poor people get a higher deal through improving and protecting their health. Health has been an undervalued strategy in the war against poverty. We have the evidence, it is time to act," said Cassels. Meanwhile, according to the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) energy requirements and food in-take of both sexes in all age groups will have to be revised as lifestyle changes are leading to new health challenges. "One of the most significant changes is the emergence of obesity in countries still struggling to end hunger. A combination of increased income and the availability of more food, but not necessarily better food, is behind this change. So too is the fact that activity levels are decreasing in much of the developing world. In many cases, obesity occurs in the same household as hunger," FAO said in a report on its website. Visit the FAO report at www.fao.org/news/2002/020103-e.htm