INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

Pnina Herzog
President of International Council of Women

Thank you Elaine Wolfson, energetic, dynamic partner in this seminar, distinguished members of our Panel, Ambassadors, Heads of Missions, Heads of UN Agencies, participants of Governments, NGOs, the private sector - all partners - at this seminar on "Women's Health in the Twenty-first Century".

It is a great privilege to welcome Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of the World Health Organization, past Prime Minister of Norway and world-renowned, in addition to her other qualifications, for the "Brundtland Report on Environmental and Sustainable Development."

In the six months since her election to the position of Director-General of WHO, Dr. Brundtland has introduced structural changes in the organization, streamlining 50 programs into 9 clusters and setting priorities in WHO's work.

She did that because she felt that we have to look for innovative ways in order to speed up processes and achieve outcomes.

In 1948, when the World Health Organization came into being, the World Health Assembly set four priorities: malaria, tuberculosis, venereal diseases and health of mothers and children.

The importance of environmental hygiene and nutrition was also stressed.

Today, 50 years later, the issues are still with us and WHO's priorities are: tobacco, roll back malaria, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS (in the past, venereal diseases) and environmental issues and nutrition.

As we face the 21st century, we realize that there is much work ahead of us, and that the responsibilities lie on governments, communities, NGOs, the private sector, and individuals. By now, it is evident that true health extends beyond the Health Sector - other ministries, housing, builders, industrialists, food producers, young people, the elderly, the disabled, all need to be involved.

Women are the consumers and providers of health services to family members: they carry the major burden in society. Empowerment of women is the responsibility of governments and women's NGOs in partnership with the private sector.

There are no miracle cures for illness. Cures only too often, come too late. We must invest in prevention of disease and in health promotion and changes in lifestyles. Prevention is the answer to communicable diseases as well as to non-communicable diseases.

Disease knows no geographical borders or class distinction.

Whatever affects certain populations very soon affects us all.