The Fifty-eighth Session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean is scheduled to take place in the World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt, from Sunday 2 to Wednesday 5 October 2011 inclusive. The inaugural session will take place in the Kuwait Conference Hall on Sunday, 2 October 2011 at 09.00 a.m.
Representatives and observers
The meeting will be attended by one Representative of each of the Members participating in the Session. The Representatives may be accompanied by alternates and advisers (Rule 1 of the Rules of Procedure).
Observers of the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme, some of the Specialized Agencies, certain other organs of the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the African Union, and a number of other inter-governmental and nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO, as well as observers from some national health institutions, will also attend.
Secretariat
The Regional Director is ex-officio Secretary of the Committee (Rule 17 of the Rules of Procedure). The WHO Director-General will also attend the first part of the session.
Agenda and other documents for the session
In conformity with Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure, the Provisional Agenda for the Session (Document EM/RC58/1) is now being sent to Members of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean. The main subjects for discussion will be:
1. Reports on the work of the World Health Organization in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
(a) Annual Report of the Regional Director 2010
(b) Progress report on eradication of poliomyelitis
(c) Progress report on the Tobacco-Free Initiative
(d) Progress report on achievement of the Millennium Development Goals
(e) Progress report on control and elimination of malaria
(f) Progress report on cancer prevention and control
(g) Regional emergency solidarity fund and progress made in operationalizing the regional hub for logistics and supply management
(h) Pandemic H1N1 and progress on the response
(i) Progress report on the regional situation regarding road traffic injuries
2. Technical Discussions
Managing the use of public health pesticides in the face of the increasing burden of vector-borne diseases
3. Technical Papers
(a) Dengue: call for urgent interventions for a rapidly expanding emerging disease
(b) Scaling up the Expanded Programme on Immunization to meet global and regional targets
(c) Strategy for mental health and substance abuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
(d) Strategic directions for research for health: scaling up in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
4. Nomination of the Regional Director
5. Committee reports
(a) Report of the Regional Consultative Committee (thirty-fifth meeting)
(b) Report of the 25th meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Advisory Committee on Health Research
6. World Health Assembly and Executive Board
(a) Resolutions and decisions of regional interest adopted by the Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly
(b) Review of the draft provisional agenda of EB130
(c) WHO reform for a healthy future
7. Nomination of a Member State to the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and its committees
8. Nomination of a Member State to the Policy and Coordination Committee of the Special Programme of Research, Development, and Research Training in Human Reproduction
9. Awards
(a) Award of the Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Prize for 2011
(b) Award of the State of Kuwait Prize for the Control of Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region 10. Place and date of future sessions of the Regional Committee
4.1 Technical Discussions
A Chairman will be elected to preside over the Technical Discussions which this year will be on Managing the use of public health pesticides in the face of the increasing burden of vector-borne diseases. Background documents on these subjects are being prepared (EM/RC58/Tech.Disc.1) and will be despatched with the documents for the Session.
Interpretation
Arabic, English and French are the official languages of the Regional Committee (Rule 21 of the Rules of Procedure). Simultaneous interpretation will therefore be provided in these three languages. Representatives who have prepared written statements will greatly facilitate the work of the Session if they will be kind enough to give advance copies to the Conference Secretariat, at least 48 hours before the beginning of the meeting.
Arrangements and facilities
Reception on Arrival
Provided that sufficient notice is given, delegations will be met on arrival at Cairo International Airport and will be assisted with transport directly to the hotel.
In order to make arrangements for reception at the airport, as well as for transportation to the hotel, it is important that Representatives and other participants fax their flight details, date and exact time of arrival by 31 August 2011, at the very latest using (Annex A). Correspondence may be addressed as follows:
World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Monazamet El Seha El Alamia Str, Extension of Abdel Razak El Sanhouri Street P.O. Box 7608, Nasr City Cairo 11371, Egypt Telephone: (+202) 26702535/22765000 Fax: (+202) 26702492/94 e-mail: Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. and Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. Entry Visa to Egypt
Representatives and other participants should obtain visa for Egypt prior to departure from their home countries. Should any assistance be required, they should contact either the WHO Representative or the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in their countries. Meanwhile, this Office is prepared to assist participants from countries where consular authorities of Egypt are not available, in obtaining their visa on arrival at the airport provided full details are faxed at least 2 months in advance (1 August 2011) to obtain necessary visa (Annex C).
Privileges and Immunities
All Members officially attending the Regional Committee in Cairo as well as their alternates and advisers will enjoy the privileges and immunities granted to Representatives at meetings convened by UN Specialized Agencies, which are set out in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies.
Health Requirements on Arrival/Departure
According to the WHO International Travel and Health Requirements, the Government of Egypt does not require any vaccination certificates from international travellers except for those coming from yellow fever infected areas. However, kindly also check with the travel agent or airline concerned in your country regarding any developments in health requirements.
Date and place of the meeting Representatives and observersSecretariat Agenda and other documents for the session Interpretation Arrangements and facilities Climate Block hotel reservations have been made at Intercontinental Citystars Hotel. The preferential rates agreed upon are listed hereunder:
Intercontinental Citystars Hotel Omar Ibn El Khattab Street PO Box 1026, Cairo 11737 Tel: ++20-2-24800 100 Fax: ++20-2-24800 200 http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/overview/cairo-citystars Room type Rate in US$ Single standard room 98 Club InterContinental single room 128 Business Suite 218 Executive Suite 268 Diplomatic Suite 298
All above rates are:
Based on accommodation only
Supplement of US$ 30.00 will be added for double occupancy per room, per night.
Subject to 12% service charge, 10% sales tax and 1% municipal tax
Special Benefits
Complimentary use of fitness centre
All rooms and suites are equipped with tea/coffee making facilities, iron and ironing board and business desk
Complimentary high speed internet access
Meal prices
Breakfast buffet: US$ 28
Lunch or dinner buffet: US$ 35
Club InterContinental floors benefits:
Exclusive check-in and check-out area (on the 12th floor)
Complimentary Club InterContinental buffet breakfast from 6.30 till11.00
Afternoon tea from 16.00 to 18.00 hours at the Club InterContinental Lounge
Complimentary pressing of 3 pieces
Complimentary late check-out till 16.00 hours.
The current exchange rate is EGP 5.94 per 1 US$ which is subject to change should there be a revision in rates.
All above expenses are the direct responsibility of persons lodging in the hotel and should be settled individually.
It is important that requests for hotel accommodation be sent to the Regional Office together with the enclosed hotel registration form (Annex B) not later than 31 August 2011.
Hotel bookings will be arranged as and when requests are received and participants will be advised by return about action taken. It is also important that requests for hotel accommodation be sent complete with the exact duration of stay and number of room bookings to be made, as well as whether each room or suite should be for single or double occupancy.
Transportation
In addition to transport on arrival and departure, transport will be provided for any official functions which are held away from the hotel and also for daily transportation from the hotel to the site of the meeting and back again.
Currency and banking facilities
Travellers cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at the hotel or at any bank in Cairo. The hotel bank is open 24 hours. Foreign currency in the form of travellers cheques and/or notes may be brought into the country. Foreign currency brought in may be exchanged for local currency through banks and authorized dealers in foreign currency. Major credit cards are accepted in most establishments.
Travel services
Participants are strongly advised to have their return flights confirmed before departing for Egypt, as onward reservations and deviations may be difficult to obtain at short notice.
Communication Services
During the period of the Session, communications should be addressed as follows:
World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Monazamet El Seha El Alamia Str, Extension of Abdel Razak El Sanhouri Street P.O. Box 7608, Nasr City Cairo 11371, Egypt Telephone: (+202) 26702535/22765000 Fax: (+202) 26702492/94 e-mail: Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. and Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. Departure tax
Departure tax is directly included in the price of your ticket.
Mailing of Documents
The Secretariat will be pleased, at the end of the Session, to assist in mailing documents to participants in their home countries. The documents should have clearly marked labels provided by the Secretariat with the name and full address of the participant, and should be left in the Conference Room.
Climate
In October the weather is expected to be warm during the day and cold in the evening. Temperatures during this time of the year range between a maximum of 24ºC and a minimum of 12ºC.