59th World Health Assembly (22-27 May 2006)- Canadian Red Cross

59th World Health Assembly (22-27 May 2006)

Speech by Dr. Pierre Duplessis, Secretary General, Canadian Red Cross

President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

On behalf of my President and all our member National Societies around the world, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to address the Assembly today.

I will, however, begin with an expression to you and all the staff and members of the WHO of our collective sorrow at the passing of Dr Lee. He lives in our memory in the Red Cross and Red Crescent world as a man with a true dedication to the highest ideals of public health. He stands as the man who inspired the signature of a vitally important agreement last year between WHO and our Federation.

That agreement set a new basis for cooperation between our organisations, building opportunities for solid partnerships between us and – even more importantly – between Ministries of Health and our National Societies.

I. Our shared concerns with WHO on the shortage of health workers

As a close working partner of the World Health Organisation, we welcome the World Health Report 2006 entitled “Working together for Health”, and share the concerns on the challenges caused by the shortage of health workforce.

II. Without health workers and volunteers to enable health for all, no MDGs can be achieved

This is why we are pleased that the World Health Report 2006 has included volunteers as part of the health workforce. They are the additional human force we need and in which we must invest if we are to ensure Health for All and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Such a mobilisation of this most dynamic element of the communities has proven to be critical for the success of health and care activities at all levels. Without well-trained and well-supported volunteers to “go the last mile”, most often the vulnerable, the marginalised and the poor would simply be missed out. This is why partnerships with Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are so important, everywhere.

III. Volunteers and their contribution to health for all

The Red Cross and Red Crescent unique advantage in health and care programming is its effective network of 100 million trained community-based volunteers in the worldwide network of National Societies.

They are the ones involved at the community level in essential and life-saving interventions: first aid delivery or training, childhood immunization, safe pregnancy and delivery services, access to HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis treatments, to name just a few.

IV. Prepared to reduce the risk

The role of volunteers is also recognized in the planning and prevention of major heath incidents.

We have found that our experience, gained through the successful mobilisation of volunteer support in many other outbreak situations, is an invaluable addition to national planning.

This is the case with the unprecedented threat posed by the avian influenza. As a result of our experience and know-how, volunteers are much more widely recognized as an essential component in the health care work force.

V. Sustainability and investment

Although volunteer engagement is cost effective, it is not free and should be properly funded. We need to invest in the recruitment, training, support and management of volunteers; while at the same time making sure that they are not used to pick up gaps in inadequately funded or staffed health care systems.

It is our hope that the World Health Report will in future offer a more detailed analysis of the way networks like the Red Cross and Red Crescent contribute to the building of the health care work force.

This will develop further the approach to community involvement which was so important to Dr Lee and our Secretary-General Markku Niskala when they signed their agreement on 11 May 2005.

Thank you.