No group is better placed to ensure that greater economic integration brings benefits to those who need them the most. Through encouraging global solidarity while nurturing diversity, we help to shape events in line with the values of equity and fairness. Now to a second reason why this is a powerful moment. Health is very big news - everywhere. It involves more and more people.
Health is no longer a concern only of health professionals.
A much wider constituency is engaged. Just last week, global health featured prominently within the discussions at the U.S. European summit. A month ago, Africa's Heads of State assessed the economic impact of malaria for their continent and their peoples. They took responsibility for a continent wide effort to help people to halve the impact of malaria on their lives. They undertook to promote a series of proven interventions, making them available to people in their homes, when they need them.