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REMARKS BY:	DONNA E. SHALALA, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
PLACE:		World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
DATE:		May 15, 2000

Meeting our Challenges in the New Century

Madam President, Madam Director-General, distinguished delegates: It is an honor to once again address the World Health Assembly. As we witness the dawn of the 21st century, I'm reminded of the words of U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt nearly 100 years ago: "A new century is a time for both celebration and reflection." We certainly have much to celebrate: Led by WHO, over the past decades we've consigned smallpox to the history books.we've eradicated polio from most of the world.and we've put health firmly on the global agenda. And now, thanks to its dedicated staff and its dynamic Director-General, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO has become the pre-eminent global force for health. I also find myself reflective-because today marks my eighth, and final, speech to this body as the Secretary of Health and Human Services of the United States. I will leave with President Clinton at the end of his term in January, 2001.

Last year, I said that we can only guarantee a future of health for all if we address the challenges of infectious disease; non-communicable disease; and emerging public health threats. Reflecting on that, I want to discuss with you the five commitments we-the international health community-must make to meet those challenges in this new century.

First, we must vigorously fight infectious disease. That's especially important as we near our goal of eradicating polio. Finishing the job won't be easy. We can't become complacent. Donor nations must do more to overcome the financial, political, security and other barriers to polio eradication. Let me be clear: No nation is free of polio-until every nation is free of polio.

Madam President, as we continue to battle infectious disease, we must always pursue new, more effective, weapons. That's the second commitment. That's why President Clinton has proposed a one billion dollar tax credit for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to accelerate vaccine development. This powerful incentive will help move vaccines out of the halls of science and into the hands of those who need them.including those with TB, malaria and AIDS.

Confronting the global epidemic of AIDS must be our third commitment. Up to one quarter of southern Africa's population may die of AIDS-and the potential for explosive epidemics in Asia and Eastern Europe is just as threatening. Besides the toll in human lives and human suffering, these numbers endanger fragile democracies.fragile economies.fragile health systems-and international political stability. That's why the President of the United States considers AIDS a threat to our regional and global security.why we're supporting a significant increase in funding to combat the AIDS epidemic around the world.and why we must reaffirm our support of UNAIDS. We must all recognize that AIDS is a threat to every Member State-and act accordingly.

Madam President, our fourth commitment is clear: We must protect our children from a very different epidemic-tobacco. As we approach the tenth anniversary of the World Summit for Children-which challenged all of us to reduce child and infant mortality-let's pit our wits and our wills to this task. By the middle of this century, tobacco is predicted to be the leading global cause of non-communicable death and disability-responsible for one in eight deaths. We have a tremendous opportunity to prevent many of these deaths by supporting WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative. I also believe that the proposed Framework Convention on Tobacco Control can be the strongest multinational effort-ever-against tobacco. Madam President, the debate on the Convention must be open, transparent and inclusive- and we urge that the framework itself be sufficiently broad to permit universal signing by Member States. The only way to defeat the tobacco epidemic is through global cooperation.

That brings me to our fifth, and final, commitment: We must continue to work together for positive change. WHO must lead the way. But this isn't a job for WHO alone. Madam President: World health problems require world health solutions. It's up to all of us to expand worldwide access to immunizations, safe blood and health services-including mental health services-for all. To support partnerships like WHO's "Roll Back Malaria;" "STOP TB;" and the new "Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization." To ensure that women and girls share equally in health and education services. To vigorously pursue prevention strategies for all our citizens-women, men and children. To develop the evidence base for health systems so that we know how to deal effectively with the major causes of death and disability. And to escalate our global fight against infectious disease, non-communicable disease and emerging public health threats.

Madam President: If we truly want to reach the goal of ensuring health for all, we must continue to form global partnerships.strengthen global systems.harness global communications. and-above all-chart a common course in our common cause.

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