UN urged to mobilize public opinion for global health goals

A call for action by the UN General Assembly to mobilize public opinion "for the health of nations" came recently in New York from the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in an international Forum  on "Threats to the Health and Sustainable Development of Nations."  The forum was held on 15 and 16 October 2009.

The Forum's concluding 'Actions Points' urged UN Member States "to leverage all forms of media, including traditional communicators, to educate communities and promote health." The Forum recommended adoption by the General Assembly of a draft resolution “to mobilize public opinion universally amongst 'we the peoples of the United Nations', in pursuing the common cause of global human health.”

The proposed resolution asks the UN to "discuss, debate and decide on a plan of action to stimulate and mobilize public opinion.” It also calls for the Assembly to accept the Ministerial Declaration unanimously adopted in July in Geneva by the UN's Economic and Social Council which seeks to implement "internationally agreed commitments in regard to global public health.”  This Declaration calls for "political leadership, empowerment of communities and engagement of all stakeholders, including individuals, for attaining these goals.”

The proposed resolution [click here to download in pdf format] recommended by the Civil Society Forum calling for action now by the UN General Assembly, originated with the Nightingale Initiative for Global Health (NIGH) in preparing to celebrate the 2010 International Year of the Nurse, marking the Centennial of Florence Nightingale with a public awareness campaign of advocacy in support of world health and for the achievement of all the UN's Millennium Development Goals.

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