Organisation of Islamic Cooperation OIC welcomes theassessment and draws attention to the World Health Organisation's report on the Health conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the Occupied Syrian Golan, as well as the WHO Director General's field assessment report. OIC's Acting Permanent Observer to the United Nation in Geneva, Ambassador Aissata Kane, made the statement onbehalf of the OIC at the 69th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) taking place from 23 to 28 May 2016, at the Palais des Nations Geneva. "The health conditions described herein, which are precarious, should be denounced vigorously and addressed in significant and urgent manner," said Ambassador Kane. "OIC is deeply concerned particularly over the attacks against health services and the deterioration of mental and physical health, including the health of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons and ex-detainees. In the same vein, OIC is extremely worried on the continuous removal of medical supplies on UN humanitarian convoys, destruction of health facilities, killing of medical personnel and the refusal of medical evacuation in favor of Syrian people already confronted with serious health constraints,' she added. Ambassador Kane noted that OIC continues its cooperation with WHO and other relevant UN agencies in the area of health as reiterated by the biannual OIC-UN cooperation meeting held in Geneva mid May 2016. This coordination meeting outlined joint action areas for improvement in public health, in particular for maternal and newborn and child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, among others. According to Ambassador Kane, OIC and its relevant institutions are working with the US Government along with WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA to address the high burden of mortality of mother during delivery and death of new born baby. Moreover, OIC General Secretariat, along with the IDB signed practical arrangement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on cancer control in OIC Member States, early this month (May 2016). The OIC envoy also recalled that a Special Session on OIC First Ladies' Leadership on Cancer Control in Member States was held at the sidelines of the OIC leaders' Summit, held in April 2016 in Istanbul. The Special Session raised and enhanced awareness on the increasing cancer burden in OIC Member States and recommended ways to access to effective cancer prevention, diagnostics, treatment and care. She added that OIC remains committed to polio eradication and is working closely with partners of the Islamic Advisory Group, comprising Al Azhar University, OIC, Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) in this regard. The World Health Assembly is World Health Organization (WHO) supreme decision-making body that gathers Member States in a yearly basis. The theme for this year's general debate is "Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development".
