Guinea Celebrates World Health Day

1. (U) Reftel requests that post report on World Health Day
activities in country. The Embassy posted on their website
information on World Health Day 2008 along with links to USG climate
change policy and USG activities to protect health from climate
change.



2. (U) The Government of Guinea hosted a World Health Day ceremony,
focusing on "Protecting Health from Climate Change" on April 7. Dr.
Rene Coddy, the Guinean Representative to the World Health
Organization, gave the opening remarks for the ceremony. Following
his remarks, a representative from the Ministry of Agriculture gave
a presentation on the causes of climate change, the impacts of
climate change visible around the world, and negative health
consequences caused by climate change. Sangar Maimouna Bah,
Minister of Public Health, gave the closing remarks, highlighting
the need to improve Guinea's capacity to cope with climate-related
health challenges. She emphasized the need for increased
collaboration and partnership between the Government of Guinea and
donor countries. Her proposed actions included: (1) strengthening
surveillance and control of infectious diseases; and (2)
establishing greater awareness and public understanding of health
consequences of climate change through national and rural campaigns.






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COMMENT


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3. (U) The ceremony was well attended by representatives from donor
countries, NGOs and Guinean Government officials. The ceremony did
not deviate far from the topic and discussion points coordinated
worldwide through the World Health Organization for World Health Day


2008. END COMMENT.

CARTER