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..Press
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UNESCAP News Services
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Date 29
November 2004
Press Release No: N/30/2004
Health matters in development
Subcommittee on Health and Development
and the World AIDS Day commemoration, 1-3 December 2004
BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services)
-- Diabetes, heart diseases, cancers and obesity are part of
a major health transition that is sweeping across Asia-Pacific.
These non-communicable diseases account for over 60 per cent
of all deaths in the region. Demographic and lifestyle changes,
dietary patterns, smoking and reduced physical activity are
closely associated with this pandemic.
Sixty per cent of global road deaths occur in
Asia-Pacific, despite the region having only 16 per cent of
the world’s vehicles. Communicable diseases continue to
plague many parts of the region. Many countries in the region
shoulder a double burden of non-communicable diseases, and infectious
diseases such as HIV and AIDS. The epicentre of the HIV epidemic
is shifting fast to this populous region, with 1.2 million people
newly infected last year.
With the sharp rise in HIV infection among women
and girls, ESCAP and UNAIDS will mark World AIDS Day 2004 by
coorganizing a special session on the theme of “Women,
girls, HIV and AIDS.” It will feature as special speaker
Arzu Ranna Deuba, first lady of Nepal, and renowned gender issues
champion. Elizabeth Selhore, NGO activist who founded the first
hospice in Delhi for women living with AIDS, will moderate the
session.
A Filipina former migrant worker, an Indonesian
youth peer counselor and a Thai care-giver mother, will share
their personal journeys in struggling with the virus.
The context for this is the first intergovernmental
meeting in Asia-Pacific to examine what causes poor health and
devise regional action to address development factors that affect
public health.
Government officials and civil society representatives
will attend the inaugural session of the UNESCAP Subcommittee
on Health and Development, to be held in Bangkok, 1-3 December
2004. Planning, finance, health and education officials will
work on regional strategic action to tackle the social, economic
and environmental factors that affect mental and physical well-being.
NOTE TO EDITORS: You are cordially invited to
attend the opening of the Subcommittee meeting (09:00 hrs) and
the World AIDS Day commemoration (09:30-12:15 hrs) Wednesday,
1 December 2004, UN Conference Centre, Rajadamnern Nok Ave.,
Bangkok.
For further information please contact:
UN Information Services Bangkok
Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861-69, Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org
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