Until recently, many development professionals argued that the health sector itself is only a minor player in efforts to improve the overall health of populations. And the overwhelming majority of finance officials and economists have believed that health is relatively unimportant as a development goal or as an instrument for reducing poverty. Health was seen as a consumption rather than an investment cost. But this is changing. Health may be far more central to poverty reduction than our macroeconomist colleagues have previously thought.
Poverty breeds ill-health that is nothing new.
But we now know much more about how ill-health also breeds poverty, triggers a vicious cycle, hampers economic and social development, and contributes to unsustainable resource depletion and environmental degradation. The persistent problem of malnutrition and the unfolding AIDS crisis in Africa tell this story in its most stark form. Investing in health to reduce poverty could provide the kind of sharp focus we need to mobilize the resources and the attention of the international community. The European Union is one such important partner, and I look forward to visit the European Commission shortly and sign a renewed exchange of letters between the Commission and WHO highlighting a broad array of cooperation. Since I am in Belgium, let me express my gratitude for the way this country is such a dedicated supporter of WHO - of our policies of reform and of a large number of our programmes.