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WHO to convene a Conference of The Health Aspects of
the
Tsunami Disaster in Asia at Phuket, Thailand
New Delhi, 26 April 2005:
The tsunami that struck on
December 26th across countries of South
East Asia was one of the worst natural disasters in modern
history. It caused 270,000 deaths,
injured 500,000 people across several countries and left untold numbers
homeless and exposed to threats of disease outbreaks.
WHAT: The Conference is being convened by the World
Health Organization in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health of the
Royal Thai Government. Participants will be at senior policy and expert
practitioner level. The Conference
will focus on the lessons learnt in the immediate health sector response to
the tsunami and during the early phase of recovery in the broader framework
of efforts undertaken by the affected countries supported by international
assistance.
WHY: To review health sector experience with
response and early recovery to determine successes and limitations. This is a “lessons learnt” meeting bringing
together health professionals from government and civil society, to examine
what was done well and what could have been done better. This would help strengthen national capabilities
for future preparedness and response to disasters and to seek improvements in
international systems that support national capacity development.
Where:
Hilton Phuket Acadia Hotel,
333, Patak Road, KaronBeach, Phuket, Thailand, Tel:
66 76396433
When: 4-6 May 2005
Note; The conference will be open for
journalists.
-Every day press briefings
will be held in the press conference room on specific topics to be announced
ahead.
-Two major press conferences
will be held on 4 May, after the inaugural session and on 6th May
at the close of the conference.
Journalists wishing to book
interviews with experts can contact the following Information team members: WHO Geneva: Ms Samantha Bolton: sbolton@dndi.org; Mr Marco Kokic: kokicm@who.int; Mr Iain simpson : simpsoni@who.int; SEARO Regional office New Delhi: Ms Harsaran Pandey: pandeyh@searo.who.int; mobile 91-9811021001 or 91-9810695878 or Ms Supriya Bezbaruah, bezbaruahs@searo.who.int; mobile 91 981150981; in Bangkok: Mr Prachan (Sean) Boonpracong: sboonpracong@gmail.com; mobile 66 1
9130117.
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