..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date: 31 October 2009
Press Release No: L/55/2009

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UN Day Run – Unite To Fight H1N1 2009

Noeleen Hezyer
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and
Executive Secretary of Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

October 31st 2009

Good morning, Sawasdee kha everyone

Mr. Prime Minister
Organizers of the UN Day Run
UN Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I hear that we have 11,000 participants. A very good morning to all of you. It’s a joy for me to address you on this occasion. October 24th was UN day – and over the past week a number of activities and events have been held in Bangkok and around the world marking this day. In Thailand we mark the 60th year of the United Nations being based in this country. Today we meet at the UN Day Running Festival 2009 to raise awareness around the UN’s work and to campaign against the spread of the H1N1. For much of the UN’s work it is, indeed, a race against time - especially for climate change. I can see from the long list of athletic activities taking place today that the pursuit of health through exercise is at the top of the agenda.

Before races begin, I wanted to address the theme of this year’s event – Unite To Fight H1N1. As of last week more than 400,000 confirmed cases of H1N1 have been noted and nearly 5000 deaths reported to WHO from around the world*. The spread of this disease underscores the importance of ensuring a healthy balanced life style; something that Thailand is known for, as well as ensuring access to health and social services for all. Diseases know no boundaries. But they can be stopped by awareness and education campaigns, healthy communities and affordable health care.

Thirty-one (31) UN organizations are based here in Bangkok serving our region. Together we work to promote healthy communities and human security. The UN works around the world to make development more caring of our planet and more inclusive for our people. And on this special day I would like to thank you, dear participants, dear organizers for helping raise awareness on the fight against the H1N1.

On behalf of the United Nations I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the Prime Minister, to the organizers, and hosts of this event - and on this day let us all join together, join hands to join the race, the race for a healthy and more secure world.

I Thank You, Khop Khun Kha

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* The actual number of cases is much higher since, in many countries, authorities have stopped counting individual cases.