[india-drug] Response to update on Global Health Council's conference

["Dr. Leela McCullough" <leela@healthnet.org>]

Response to update on Global Health Council's conference
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The article, "Annual Conference To Go On As Planned", can be viewed at 
http://www.globalhealth.org/news/article/4449

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Press Release
Contact: Lynnette Johnson Williams, Global Health Council
202.327.5003 or ljohnsonwilliams@globalhealth.org 
26 April 2004

Global Health Council Responds to Questions about Conference;
Conference to go on as Planned

Dr. Nils Daulaire, president and CEO of the Global Health Council, 
issued the following statement today in response to questions about
funding and content at the Council?s annual conference, "Youth and
Health: Generation on the Edge," scheduled for June 1-4, 2004:

"The Global Health Council conference has been held annually in 
Washington for the last 31 years.  It is a forum for the Council?s
members and other global health professionals to update themselves on
the most recent advances in this vital area.  The conference is not
now, nor has it ever been, a political gathering.  It is, however, a
technical conference that reviews the challenges and most recent
advances in delivering life saving technologies and services to the
world?s neediest people - and the communication of those challenges and
advances to policymakers and the public.  Conference keynote speakers
have included three Nobel Peace Prize recipients: Mother Teresa, Former
President Jimmy Carter and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
 Daulaire noted that the annual conference will proceed as it has for
the last 30 years.

"Conference participants include a wide array of individuals, 
universities, technical organizations, NGOs, faith-based organizations,
private sector companies, government and international agencies.  While
they approach some issues from different perspectives and experiences, 
participants have always shared a common commitment to the open and
respectful dialogue required to advance global health. 

"In addition to its continuing focus on child health, women?s health, 
AIDS, other infectious diseases and emerging threats such as SARS, this

year?s conference will address the important issue of youth and health.
 These sessions will review the technical experience of participants
addressing public health interventions and practices that are
culturally sensitive and have been tried and proven in the field. 
Inevitably, some of the subject matter of global health - and youth
health in particular - can be controversial.  As a matter of principle,
whenever and wherever there have been differences of views on a
particular subject area, our conference organizers have made every
effort to insure that a full range of technical viewpoints are
included.  This year is no exception to that principle.

"Unfortunately, some media coverage has selectively listed just a few 
of the dozens of organizations presenting and participating in this 
conference, and made inaccurate and misleading portrayals of its
purpose.  

A review of our conference program provides a more accurate view of the

wide spectrum of groups who assure the usual balance of views and 
experiences that our conference participants represent.  

"The Global Health Council?s annual conference has been financed though

participant registration fees supplemented with grant support from both

the public and private sectors.  Federal funds are not used to support 
any restricted lobbying activities.

"The U.S. government plays a vital role in global health, even greater 
today with the historic passage of the President?s Emergency Plan for 
HIV and AIDS.  For three decades, part of that role has been to assure 
participation of practitioners in exchanging knowledge and experience
at the Council?s annual conference.  We are certainly disappointed that

the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has disapproved
funding for this year?s conference.  HHS has been an important and
valuable partner in our work for many years and we look forward to
working with them to clarify the concerns they have raised.

"Finally, the "Youth and Health: Generation on the Edge" international 
conference will go on as planned, and we invite all to join us to 
experience firsthand the important work of our participants, presenters
and sponsors."


__________________________________________________


Leela McCullough, Ed.D.
Director of Information Services

SATELLIFE
30 California Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA
Tel: +617-926-9400    Fax: +617-926-1212
Email: leela@usa.healthnet.org
Web: http://www.healthnet.org



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