Health
Global health has a high priority with the Norwegian government. The Permanent Mission of Norway to Geneva participates actively in the governing of the global health organisations World Health Organisation (WHO), UNAIDS, the GAVI Alliance, the Global Fund and UNITAID. The work includes representing Norway’s views in governing body meetings, multilateral negotiations as well as in formal and informal settings related to global health.
There is now an open-ended meeting of Member States on the follow-up of the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development ( CEWG) report, on Research and Development. Financing and Coordination 26 – 28 November 2012. The Intervention by Ambassador Steffen Kongstad, Permanent Representative of Norway can be read here; Read more
On the 5th to 7th of November, Member States of WHO agreed on voluntary global targets for chronic non-communicable diseases. The negotiations in Geneva was led by Secretary General of the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services, and Norwegian Board Member to the WHO, Dr. Bjørn-Inge Larsen. Read more
Every year, almost 300 000 women die in connection with pregnancy and childbirth, and 6.9 million children die from preventable diseases. Many of these women and children could be saved if they had access to simple and affordable medicines. The Government proposes an additional allocation of NOK 650 million to significantly step up Norway’s efforts in the area of maternal and child health. Read more
“Well-functioning and accessible health services are crucial for development in poor countries,” said Minister of International Development Heikki Holmås. Norway is donating NOK 460 million to the World Health Organization with the aim of promoting better health for all. Read more
The US and Norway agreed today to increase efforts together to improve women’s and children’s health in poor African countries through the Saving Mothers, Giving Life partnership. Norway will provide up to NOK 500 million over a five year period, which will be used to help women and babies through childbirth and the critical first 24 hours after delivery. Read more
The Ministers of Health of the Foreign Policy and Global Health (FPGH) Initiative, comprising Brazil, France, Indonesia, Norway, Senegal, South Africa and Thailand, met on the sidelines of the 65th...
The World Health Assembly meets for the 65th time in Geneva 21-26 May 2012. Head of the Norwegian delegation is the Minister of Health and Care Services, Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen. Re-election of t...
Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was especially invited by Director General Dr. Margaret Chan of the World Health Organization to address this year’s World Health Assembly. “My point is this:...
On Wednesday 15 February the Government of Norway launched the first white paper on global health in foreign and development policy outlining Norway’s ambitions in this field. The white paper also...
Ambassador Kongstad was among several contributors when the International Day on Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) was commemorated in Geneva 6 February. The event was hosted by the...
WHO Executive Board held its 130th meeting in Geneva from 16 to 23 January 2011. WHO reform was high on the agenda with constructive discussions among Member States. The Executive Board also...
The 130th meeting of WHO Executive Board, held in Geneva from 16 – 23 January 2011, expressed its strong support to the work of the Commission on Information and Accountability by adopting a...
An Executive Board Special Session was held on 1-3 November 2011 in Geneva with the purpose of discussing WHO Reform.
A strategy document has been developed outlining Norway's key priorities in its engagement with WHO. Read more
The Ministers of Health of the Foreign Policy and Global Health (FPGH) Initiative met on the sidelines of the 63rd World Health Assembly in Geneva, Joint Communique. Read more
Head of the Norwegian delegation to The 61 World Health Assembly, Deputy Minister of Health and Care Services, Ms Rigmor Aasrud Wednesday May 21 presented the Norwegian statement in the Assembly's General Debate. The statement focussed on the importance of achieving the Millenium Development Goals, challenges connected to the effect of climate change on health, the importance of fighting the... Read more
Norway expressed full support of the efforts of the WHO aimed at increasing the level of preparedness in Member states, and underlined that all countries have a responsibility to contribute to strengthening the influenza pandemic preparedness system. We need to build on and strengthen the existing WHO influenza network, and benefits must be based on public health needs, and should cover all. Read more
To honour the entry into force of the first global public health treaty ever, WHO held a ceremony on 28 February where the countries which first ratified the Convention in each of WHOs six regions were invited to speak about the process that led them to become a party to the Convention. Below is the statement made by Ambassador Wegger Christian Strømmen on that occasion. Read more